Brooding in the run

[BigLar368]

We received our chicks and ducks on 6/10/2020. We are brooding them in a kiddie pool with hardware cloth on top and a red bulb heat lamp inside the run. They seem to be thriving well and growing at a quick pace. It will not be long before they outgrow this pool. I really did not want to brood inside the coop. My idea was that when they outgrow the pool I have a large box I was going to place in the run with their food and water. I was going to cut two access holes so they could come and go as they please and use the heat lamp at night. We live near the coast in Southeast Texas and the weather will be mid to high 70's at night and low to mid 90's during the day. 80% of the run area for the birds is shaded and I have the hardware cloth buried in the ground 4 inches deep and 12 inches out. I have concrete footers 8 inches deep and 6 inches wide underneath both of the access doors so I do believe the run is very secure. I believe the weather will be warm enough during the day and at night they will be drawn to the box because that's where the heat lamp will be. Does anyone think this is a bad idea? Thanks.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I don't see a problem doing this as long as you trust that your run is secure.

May I ask why you don't want to brood in the coop? Seems like extra work for no real reason?

 

[BigLar368]

My coop and run is fairly tight. I know nothing is 100% but we live in the city and the worse thing we will see is a raccoon or possum.

I wanted to get them used to being outside in the coop during the day. As soon as they get a little bigger I will open the coop up and start putting them in at night. Feeding them on the ground rather than reaching in the coop would be easier. Our coop is not a walk in coop. Also it will be easier for the grandbaby to interact with them as well.

 

[BigLar368]

Well, we went ahead and cut them loose in the run today. They we starting to peck each other not to mention the ducks making everything wet...lol. We felt it was time. I cut a couple of openings in a large box and they seem thrilled to be out.....much happier. As of dark thirty they are all huddled up inside the box under the light.

 

[BigLar368]

Well it just gets better. Seems like all of them have found the chicken nipples on their own. The ducks love them. Hope it continues this well.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Well it just gets better. Seems like all of them have found the chicken nipples on their own. The ducks love them. Hope it continues this well.

So great when babies basically raise themselves without you having to teach them every little thing! A lot less stress for you and for them.

 

[BigLar368]

Yeah they like being cut loose. My wife goes in and hand feeds them a few times a day but they are eating less and foraging more so I guess they are not as hungry. The ducks are way bigger than the chicks but seems like they all get along. They all sleep together in the box so it seems like it's going as planned. We'll see.