Can I use a rabbit hutch for my baby chicks?

[sarahlorrain]

I have a rabbit hutch that I got for free. It's homemade and very clean.

If you look at this page - http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/pets/rabbitphotos.htm

and look at the picture titled Single Rabbit Hutch, you can get an idea of the basic design of what I have. It's similar to this one in that there is an enclosed space with a floor and then a space that is wire mesh on the floor, walls and ceiling.

Do you think it would be possible to modify a structure such as this in such a way that it would be a nice place for the chicks? I was planning to keep it on my covered patio. Day time hours are good for newborn chicks, in the low to mid 90's, and at night the temp goes to mid 70's so I would need a heat lamp. I can move the hutch out under the shade trees during the day as well if needed.

Thoughts?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I have brooded chicks in a chick-n-hutch before and so a rabbit hutch works too (actually I just remembered I used to have two hutches that were rabbit hutches and brooded chicks in them too).

Things to be careful to modify for:

1. Make sure that your light bulb is low in wattage- you might only need a 60 watt bulb (but sufficient for the correct temp.) and check temps under the light and in the brooder furthest from the light, as they need to be able to get away from the heat. Secure your light two ways not including the clamp to prevent fire.

2. Make sure you have complete wind protection (no drafts) and that the brooder isn't in the sun overheating after the sun rises (watch those temps). Can you tell I almost overheated some chicks once ?

3. Don't trust them to go up and down the ramp by themselves to get back to the light until around 3 weeks old.

4. Animals will knock over hutches sometimes to get to what's inside so if you have lots of large predators you might consider this (also high winds).

5. Make sure there is adequate ventilation after you put up your plywood or plastic wrap for climate control (think greenhouse with plastic wrap- that gets pretty hot). They need to be out of the direct sunlight during the heat of the day (chickens love shade) if they cannot go anywhere else themselves. They need lots of airflow but not blowing directly on them (like if you had a shed with windows up high so the wind didn't blow on the chickens).

McMurray Hatchery has a good chick care page with temp. recommendations if you need it...just ask for it - or search!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Also I forgot to say, make sure that your light bulb is NOT near the shavings. You will have to judge this carefully. I have placed a light bulb outside a hutch once under a tarp but the heat bulb (150 watts) exploded as some rain droplets hit it.

 

[dretd]

Overall looks fine. I am a huge fan of re-purposing things and turned a garden bench in to a dandy coop for the little ones and now has been re-purposed a second time--I converted it to a broody-hutch.

I can't tell what type of mesh is used for the floor in the outside run and wasn't sure if there mesh as the floor on the inside but I think so. You will need to check this and make sure the screen is not too large for the feet and toes--you wouldn't want them to get caught and damaged or fall through. I am guessing no larger than 1/2 inch but 1/4 inch would be safer. I would be incluned to put a solid floor in there, myself on the inside. !/4 inch plywood could be cut to size for the floor quite easily.

Otherwise ChickensAreSweet's comments are x2 for me.

 

[dretd]

Oh,and I forgot to add

 

[sarahlorrain]

Here is a picture of my actual rabbit hutch. That above link was for an example. I don't know if this helps at all ...



There is an entryway between the two halves, obviously. I can't put a plywood floor down from the inside without taking the whole thing apart, but possibly on the bottom. I was trying to think of something I could put on that mesh that wouldn't fall through ... pine shavings on top of paper towels maybe?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

One thing that I have used before is to cut some cardboard box down to be a "tray" shape, and put shavings in it. Only thing is that the tray sides have to be short enough that the little ones can hop easily in and out of it. They love to go to the tray to sleep. If you make several trays they might cover the whole bottom.


https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-hot-chick-room
here is what someone did with boxes (scroll to bottom)

 

[sarahlorrain]

That is really neat! Gave me some ideas for sure. I would be trying to get it ready, but it is raining cats and dogs and the hutch is outside in the rain. I am not going out there to bring it under the carport. It's just going to have to wait until tomorrow!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

That is really neat! Gave me some ideas for sure. I would be trying to get it ready, but it is raining cats and dogs and the hutch is outside in the rain. I am not going out there to bring it under the carport. It's just going to have to wait until tomorrow!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/homemade-chicken-brooder-designs-pictures
here are more brooders!