brooding inside

[LightedPrism]

So. I'm having a discussion with the family about brooding new chicks inside the home. I'm curious how many have done so? and how long?
I made it a poll so hopefully easier to keep track of, but I cant really specify the amount of time (yet) could y'all type below how long they stay inside?

Also want to clarify - the scenario is hatchery chickens with no other chickens to teach and care for them.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Hi! I always brood chicks in my grooming shop, which has heat/AC, until they feather in. I have some bantams that I brooded indoors for too long. Once those tiny chicks feathered in, they only sleep inside. The rest of their day was spent outside. I believe it's better for them to be outside as quickly as possible if you have a safe heat source for them. The "Mama Heating Pad" looks like the ideal setup and I plan on using that, outside, the next time I have chicks. I regret brooding indoors, especially because I live in an area with mild winters. I wish you the best with whatever you do

 

[LightedPrism]

Hi! I always brood chicks in my grooming shop, which has heat/AC, until they feather in. I have some bantams that I brooded indoors for too long. Once those tiny chicks feathered in, they only sleep inside. The rest of their day was spent outside. I believe it's better for them to be outside as quickly as possible if you have a safe heat source for them. The "Mama Heating Pad" looks like the ideal setup and I plan on using that, outside, the next time I have chicks. I regret brooding indoors, especially because I live in an area with mild winters. I wish you the best with whatever you do

yeah its totally curiosity's sake right now. we already have our teen chicks who are outside 99% of the time. but Id like to prove I'm not crazy!! lol

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I keep them inside because none of my flocks have electricity (so no brooding out side) and I get them when it's still far too cold to be outside. Even if they did have some heat. Even my broodies can't keep them alive in that weather

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Well, if you are crazy, then you are in good company. I brood my chicks in the living room. As they get bigger, they move out to the covered patio during the day (more space for them) and eventually out to the coop. I find the chicks I did this with are much friendlier, than ones I got as older pullets.

 

[TheAlrightyGina]

I used to brood them inside, but they created so much dust that I moved them outside. However, if you put them on something besides shavings you shouldn't have that problem.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I used to brood them inside, but they created so much dust that I moved them outside. However, if you put them on something besides shavings you shouldn't have that problem.

Puppy pads work great!

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Oh ok. Well then, yes, and I've had one still sleeping indoors whenever it had already started to lay! On the positive side, I have a very strong bond with the pullets that have slept indoors the longest. I have asthma and lung damage from pneumonia and sepsis a couple of years ago, so I'll be moving any future poultry outside full-time as soon as they're ready. I believe this has a lot to do with your location too. In NC, we don't have the brutally cold temps like others and that's going to make a huge difference

 

[NatJ]

I've never brooded chicks inside my house. I cannot think of any situation when I would.

I've brooded chicks in a garage, a barn, a basement, a different garage, and an outside pen. The outside pen was made of wire mesh, but I covered most of it with tarp, plugged in a heat lamp with an extension cord, checked several details with an electrician to make sure I wasn't doing something stupid, and raised them there.

 

[mintdeer]

We currently brood in the house because we don't have any other option, haha. No garage and the big chicken coop doesn't have electricity so that wouldn't work. Used to keep them in the spare bathroom, but we got a bigger brooder this year (it's actually a "coop" we got on amazon; wouldn't use it as an actual coop but it makes a nice sturdy brooder!) so they're in our kitchen. As soon as they feather out more and the weather warms up we'll be moving the whole thing outside. Then once they're big enough and don't need heat they'll move into the big coop.