Brooding my chicks in a TENT! 🐥

[ChickyCh00k]

I would definitely try this! I plan on getting 15 chicks next year, a variety of bantams. 15 chicks, especially when they're older, are not going to fit in my tub, so I need to find a bigger brooder. Now, where could I put it...

I think it could totally work! It's worth a try anyway. The tent was about $40 - so cheaper even than the puppy playpens!

 

[3KillerBs]

Just a caveat here,

Giving indoor chicks more space is terrific, but it's still going to be a lot of dust and mess as they grow.

Outdoor brooding is still best if you can manage it in your situation.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Truly, it won't seem bad at first, but then one day you'll realize everything has dust on it. Everything. Once those feathers start growing in, they make dust like crazy!


I still prefer brooding indoors simply because I like having that close proximity to the chicks, though. However, once they hit about a month old, I'm ready for them to move OUT!

 

[ChickyCh00k]

Truly, it won't seem bad at first, but then one day you'll realize everything has dust on it. Everything. Once those feathers start growing in, they make dust like crazy!


I still prefer brooding indoors simply because I like having that close proximity to the chicks, though. However, once they hit about a month old, I'm ready for them to move OUT!

Just a caveat here,

Giving indoor chicks more space is terrific, but it's still going to be a lot of dust and mess as they grow.

Outdoor brooding is still best if you can manage it in your situation.

Thank you for that perspective! I was warned about the dust and I did get quite a large air cleaner for the bedroom they're in to try and cut down on some of that. I'm also hopeful that the tent itself will contain much of the dust (because of the way it's designed), but only time will tell! The dust situation is another thing I'll definitely be updating on here as time goes by! Experiments!!

 

[T-R-O-U-B-L-E]

Just a caveat here,

Giving indoor chicks more space is terrific, but it's still going to be a lot of dust and mess as they grow.

Outdoor brooding is still best if you can manage it in your situation.

Our coops are so far from our home, that we have to run 2-3 extension cords to get electricity out there. Id be scared with a heat lamp, and I dont really have the money for a brooder plate. Although if I can find a place that is big enough for a tent, I may just have to suck it up and buy one. Can you describe your outdoor brooding setup? I apologize for getting your thread a little off track @ChickyChook22

 

[ChickyCh00k]

I apologize for getting your thread a little off track

No problem at all! I hope @3KillerBs can help!

 

[ChickyCh00k]

Well, I'm committed to documenting things, good, and maybe not so good (I'm always open to advice and constructive criticism), about my tent experiment. So, I had been using hemp bedding - I put 2 bags of Eaton Pet & Pasture in bottom of the tent (over a liner of bed pads). The chicks were digging down to the bed pads and pulling the corners up, which I wasn't liking because I didn't want them to eat bits of the bed pad (although it didn't really seem like they were).

Anyway, I decided they needed another layer if bedding, but I didn't have any more hemp. What I did have was Small Pet Select unbleached shredded paper bedding. I decided to add a layer of the shredded paper on top of the hemp and I mixed it in a little. Now, I'm having a chicken mama freak out because they seem WAY too interested in the paper and I'm afraid they're going to eat a butt load of it and get all backed up. Has anyone else used this kind of bedding?

I have ordered 3 more bags of hemp bedding, and I plan to clean out the entire brooder and only use the hemp going forward, but it won't be here for a few days. Gah! Live and learn, Chicky!

 

[3KillerBs]

Our coops are so far from our home, that we have to run 2-3 extension cords to get electricity out there. Id be scared with a heat lamp, and I dont really have the money for a brooder plate. Although if I can find a place that is big enough for a tent, I may just have to suck it up and buy one. Can you describe your outdoor brooding setup? I apologize for getting your thread a little off track @ChickyChook22

This is my brooder: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/run-to-outdoor-brooder-conversion.76634/

It's located right behind my house in a convenient place -- though I did have to run quite a long extension cord since the only outside electric is way too close to the heat pump and would require putting the brooder in a place that would block getting the lawn mower through between the house and a garden bed.

Be sure to use a HEAVY DUTY extension cord and keep the plug end inside under shelter.

You can see how I set up for a recent batch in this photo:

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Well, I'm committed to documenting things, good, and maybe not so good (I'm always open to advice and constructive criticism), about my tent experiment. So, I had been using hemp bedding - I put 2 bags of Eaton Pet & Pasture in bottom of the tent (over a liner of bed pads). The chicks were digging down to the bed pads and pulling the corners up, which I wasn't liking because I didn't want them to eat bits of the bed pad (although it didn't really seem like they were).

Anyway, I decided they needed another layer if bedding, but I didn't have any more hemp. What I did have was Small Pet Select unbleached shredded paper bedding. I decided to add a layer of the shredded paper on top of the hemp and I mixed it in a little. Now, I'm having a chicken mama freak out because they seem WAY too interested in the paper and I'm afraid they're going to eat a butt load of it and get all backed up. Has anyone else used this kind of bedding?

I have ordered 3 more bags of hemp bedding, and I plan to clean out the entire brooder and only use the hemp going forward, but it won't be here for a few days. Gah! Live and learn, Chicky!

Yeah, my adults at least seem to have a taste for paper products. Anything from an old cardboard box to the paper strip at the bottom of a feed bag, if it's left in their reach, becomes a snack to them. I'd avoid paper as bedding, personally. I don't think they're at risk of being blocked up by it, but it certainly isn't as nutritious as their feed.

 

[ChickyCh00k]

Yeah, my adults at least seem to have a taste for paper products. Anything from an old cardboard box to the paper strip at the bottom of a feed bag, if it's left in their reach, becomes a snack to them. I'd avoid paper as bedding, personally. I don't think they're at risk of being blocked up by it, but it certainly isn't as nutritious as their feed.

That's somewhat reassuring! I'm watching them very closely. Thankfully most of the chunks are too big for them to eat (I think), and they seem to just be picking at it a lot. They are, however, likely eating some of the smaller bits. They're eating their grit and feed (and drinking lots of water...aaaaand pooping, lol) still, so I'm worrying less as I've watched them throughout the morning. But, I will be removing everything ASAP, and starting anew with hemp only (just deeper this time). Thank you for sharing your insight - it really is so helpful!

Here's what the paper looks like: