Brooding meat birds with layers

[E Buschjost]

This is a newbie question (sorry if dumb).
I am planning to build a coop to keep a small flock of layers year-round. Also want to raise about 75 broilers. I will start building the coop soon so it is ready for Spring. I’m in Missouri so it’s winter here now and am trying to figure out the timeline and layout.
I know the broilers should be raised for about 6-weeks separately from the layers. I have an antique incubator I’m planning to retro to use to hatch the layers, then brood them in it as well. I will put it inside the coop (it’s a large coop with two sections separated by a wall) then transfer the layers to the coop from the brooder when they’re ready. How do I brood all of the broilers in this setup? This first year will obviously be the only time I have this issue since I won’t have to hatch/brood layers every year.
any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

After the broilers are 4 weeks or so, they may be big enough to run with the hens due to their size. Mobility will do them good. What breed of broiler are you considering?
You'll need a rooster for the hen flock for fertile eggs year after year.
An incubator, antique or otherwise won't suffice as a brooder. The chicks will need space to run and access to food and water from hatch.
What part of MO are you in? I'm in the east.

 

[E Buschjost]

After the broilers are 4 weeks or so, they may be able to run with the hens.
You'll need a rooster for the hen flock for fertile eggs year after year.
An incubator, antique or otherwise won't suffice as a brooder. The chicks will need space to run and access to food and water from hatch.
What part of MO are you in? I'm in the east.

Central Missouri. The incubator is large - about 18” deep, 4’ square. Can convert to brooder with feed/water. They’ll grow out of it pretty quickly probably. What should I do to brood the broilers?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It may be a brooder. I've never seen an incubator that was 4' square.
To brood chicks you only need a warm spot and lots of cool space. The whole space doesn't have to be warm. Just a spot for them to warm up and room to roam.
The incubator, on the other hand, must be 99.5 throughout the incubator. That's why I think it is a brooder. It would be very difficult to maintain precise temperature in a space that large.

 

[E Buschjost]

It says “incubator”. Anyway I understand what you mean. Thank you for the help.

 

[Xouie]

That sounds like an old table incubator. And it works?!?! I would LOVE to see pictures of that!

75 meat birds is a lot. They get big fast, so you’ll need a lot of room, like a dedicated shed with multiple heat sources and very good ventilation. Depending on breed and how long you keep them going, that could be 700+ pounds live weight— and a lot of poo.

 

[Lovesumchicks]

That sounds like an old table incubator. And it works?!?! I would LOVE to see pictures of that!

75 meat birds is a lot. They get big fast, so you’ll need a lot of room, like a dedicated shed with multiple heat sources and very good ventilation. Depending on breed and how long you keep them going, that could be 700+ pounds live weight— and a lot of poo.

Yes I raised 80 from chicks last year and it was every 3 days of cleaning poop. It was bad!!!

 

[Ridgerunner]

You are in the Show Me State, could you possibly show a photo of that "incubator". It might help with the answer but it would just be interesting to see the antique. It's very possible an antique could be both an incubator and a brooder. Folks were pretty clever back when I was born. Yes that makes me an antique too.

The way I understand it you want to hatch the layers but you are not going to hatch 75 broilers. You will buy those? Are you talking about the Cornish X or maybe the Ranger type of broiler? Or will they be dual purpose cockerels?

A 4' x 4' brooder isn't that large, I'd think 75 chicks would overwhelm it pretty fast. It sounds like you are planning on having electricity out there. As far as the broilers go I'd suggest you abandon plans to use that as a brooder for them and instead consider building an Ohio hover brooder in your coop. Think of a shallow box with the opening at the bottom. It's raised enough that the chicks can go under it to warm up but come out to eat, drink, and play. They will poop everywhere, including on top. Warm air rises and the shallow box keeps the heat in. I'll include a link to give you the idea.

How to Build an Ohio Brooder – Morning Joy Farm

This way you can keep the layers and broilers schedules totally separated. To me that means simpler, less complicated.

 

[E Buschjost]

I am wondering if I build a brooder for them that could be moved outside to finish off when it’s warm enough

 

[E Buschjost]

You are in the Show Me State, could you possibly show a photo of that "incubator". It might help with the answer but it would just be interesting to see the antique. It's very possible an antique could be both an incubator and a brooder. Folks were pretty clever back when I was born. Yes that makes me an antique too.

The way I understand it you want to hatch the layers but you are not going to hatch 75 broilers. You will buy those? Are you talking about the Cornish X or maybe the Ranger type of broiler? Or will they be dual purpose cockerels?

A 4' x 4' brooder isn't that large, I'd think 75 chicks would overwhelm it pretty fast. It sounds like you are planning on having electricity out there. As far as the broilers go I'd suggest you abandon plans to use that as a brooder for them and instead consider building an Ohio hover brooder in your coop. Think of a shallow box with the opening at the bottom. It's raised enough that the chicks can go under it to warm up but come out to eat, drink, and play. They will poop everywhere, including on top. Warm air rises and the shallow box keeps the heat in. I'll include a link to give you the idea.

How to Build an Ohio Brooder – Morning Joy Farm

This way you can keep the layers and broilers schedules totally separated. To me that means simpler, less complicated.

That’s really a good idea. Yes I think I’ll keep it separate from the layers. But wouldn’t it need to be in a totally different space since the simultaneously growing layers will want their coop when they’re old enough?