Brooding outside in the coop in October

[Sefirothe]

Soooo....its late but chick fever has finally beat me down. I was just cruising my favorite hatchery's website and 90% of the breeds I want are available and hatching on Oct 14th.

I prefer to brood out in the coop on the floor in a dog crate with a heat plate from day 1. October high temps are usually in the 60's with lows in the 40's. November can be highs in the 40-50's and lows down to the 30's. I'd be getting 8-10 standard sized chicks, no bantams.

Do-able?

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Totally doable. I brooded on my back porch in February when covid hit. I was so bored I got chicks even though my new coop wasn’t ready and since I hate brooding in the house I rigged up a brooder right outside my bedroom window. It was a dog kennel, a heat lamp and a cardboard box then I threw some old towels over the top at night. Worked great!

 

[Sefirothe]

My wallet is wishing this plan would be shot down.

I'm gonna end up ordering way more than I can fit in the coop and plan to rehome the ones that dont work out I think....

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

You’ve come to the wrong place to get shot down lol.

 

[Sefirothe]

You’ve come to the wrong place to get shot down lol.

Yep, because this totally happened:

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Only ten!?

 

[Sefirothe]

Only ten!?

Well they do throw in a free one so technically 11.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Lol well you already ordered but yes, I think the plan is doable. Just mind any temperature restrictions on the heat plate (a heat lamp with an incandescent bulb may be enough to bring the area around the plate up to temperature if needed), and hope that by the time November rolls around it doesn't dip too low too soon.

 

[Sefirothe]

Lol well you already ordered but yes, I think the plan is doable. Just mind any temperature restrictions on the heat plate (a heat lamp with an incandescent bulb may be enough to bring the area around the plate up to temperature if needed), and hope that by the time November rolls around it doesn't dip too low too soon.

Good point, I looked up the brand plate I have online and didnt see any ambient restrictions in the user guide.