Tre3hugger
Let Your Freak Flag Fly
Hey everyone. Thought I would share my method for warm weather brooding. Not saying everyone should do this but it is an option that has worked for me!!
So far I have done 3 batches of chicks(2 layers, 1 meat) and 1 batch of keets this way. I repurposed an old rabbit hutch that has 3, 2x3 cages in it. This way I have been able to raise different species separately, at the same time. It is raised off the ground and has wire floors.
In this picture only the middle is housing animals. I use the left one to keep my power strip that my brooder plates plug into. It is protected from the elements in there. Inside I provide a layer of pine chips, brooder plate, food, water, and usually a stick or two to perch on. Here is the middle section in use with my last batch of 14 heritage layers. They are 3 days old in this pic. You can see the brooder plate in the back.
And with my first batch of 4 incubated eggs.
I usually put paper towel over the wood shavings for the first few days until they learn what food is. Chicks out here seem to feather out a bit quicker and benefit from sunshine and a natural light cycle. They are also right near my chicken run so they can hear and see the adult chickens from a very early age.
Here are some 3 day old keets in the right compartment of the hutch, checking out their new surroundings.
I was initially really nervous with these tiny guys outside, having read all the temperature requirements. Lots of people on here keep their birds inside on heat for 8 weeks or more, and while that is fine, that just wasn't an option for me. So I put my faith in my setup and my birds and so far I have only lost two chicks, both cornish cross. The other 24 from that batch thrived. Here is a pic of the cornish x in the middle chamber.
And one more of the hutch
The lowest night temps I have had using this system is about 60*F. My cornish x were off heat at 3 weeks old and on pasture! My last layers were off heat at 5 weeks, I believe they feather out quicker and adjust to temps quicker living their childhood outside. Just wanted to let people know this way is possible. Chicks are a bit hardier than we give them credit for!
Any questions on the hutch build or anything else, please ask. Anyone else do something similiar? How do you brood?
So far I have done 3 batches of chicks(2 layers, 1 meat) and 1 batch of keets this way. I repurposed an old rabbit hutch that has 3, 2x3 cages in it. This way I have been able to raise different species separately, at the same time. It is raised off the ground and has wire floors.
In this picture only the middle is housing animals. I use the left one to keep my power strip that my brooder plates plug into. It is protected from the elements in there. Inside I provide a layer of pine chips, brooder plate, food, water, and usually a stick or two to perch on. Here is the middle section in use with my last batch of 14 heritage layers. They are 3 days old in this pic. You can see the brooder plate in the back.
And with my first batch of 4 incubated eggs.
I usually put paper towel over the wood shavings for the first few days until they learn what food is. Chicks out here seem to feather out a bit quicker and benefit from sunshine and a natural light cycle. They are also right near my chicken run so they can hear and see the adult chickens from a very early age.
Here are some 3 day old keets in the right compartment of the hutch, checking out their new surroundings.
I was initially really nervous with these tiny guys outside, having read all the temperature requirements. Lots of people on here keep their birds inside on heat for 8 weeks or more, and while that is fine, that just wasn't an option for me. So I put my faith in my setup and my birds and so far I have only lost two chicks, both cornish cross. The other 24 from that batch thrived. Here is a pic of the cornish x in the middle chamber.
And one more of the hutch
The lowest night temps I have had using this system is about 60*F. My cornish x were off heat at 3 weeks old and on pasture! My last layers were off heat at 5 weeks, I believe they feather out quicker and adjust to temps quicker living their childhood outside. Just wanted to let people know this way is possible. Chicks are a bit hardier than we give them credit for!
Any questions on the hutch build or anything else, please ask. Anyone else do something similiar? How do you brood?
. No worries about them getting cold, it is so hot here atm that I'm running the sprinkler nearby to keep them cool during the day.
There were two dead in the brooder with heads and limbs missing. Another was missing one leg and wing and was stuck in the HWC alive. I obviously put it out of its misery. It has been a whirlwind of emotion. The weasels must have stood on a plastic tote I have underneath storing wood chips. Then did their dirty work. I feel so guilty. BEWARE OF WEASELS. I got too comfy and they rocked my worlkd. I added plastic tiles to the bottom of the broode r and removed the tote. Hopefully that can keep them out. They killed my only lied meet and 2\3 lavender. 
Hard hard lesson.
