Day-old chicks start inside or outside?

[HerdAndHome]

My chicks are hatching (at Meyer) June 24 and hitting the postal road to me in Atlanta, GA. I've suddenly gone bimbo, forgot what I've read, what you've all written... letting the sound of my own wheels make me crazy! I digress.
My brooder *aka "the nursery" is inside the house in a ground floor room with all HVAC vents closed. It's still nice an cool inside, 78°. It's 97° in the shade outside. The run is that, but it's 95° - 100° in the coop!
Do I skip keeping the chicks in the house for 6 weeks only to put them out in late July/August when it's 100° in the shade? Or do I start them outside? My coop is secure. My run will be fully hardware cloth-ed secure before they arrive.

 

[GlicksChicks]

It is good to keep the chicks in a smaller area than the coop or run when they are that young. The bigger an area is that they are staying, the less likely they are to find their food and water.

It is also good to keep them in an area where you can keep an eye on them more often, when they are that young they are much more prone to injury and dying.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Since everything is secure I would just brood them outside. I brood outside in my barn down to 40F outside in an 10x10’ brooder and have no issues. I personally see a difference in chicks brooded outside vs inside the house. They overall just seem to be hardier and adapt better. The only chicks I have lost were shipped chicks that arrived dead or sick to begin with. All grow up to be happy, healthy and no health issues.

 

[GlicksChicks]

Since everything is secure I would just brood them outside. I brood outside in my barn down to 40F outside in an 10x10’ brooder and have no issues. I personally see a difference in chicks brooded outside vs inside the house. They overall just seem to be hardier and adapt better. The only chicks I have lost were shipped chicks that arrived dead or sick to begin with. All grow up to be happy, healthy and no health issues.

I brood mine outside as well. Here in Texas, the summer is warm enough to provide them heat without an extra source, but I provide one at night. I keep them in a brooder, not a run and coop as the OP is wondering about.

Depending on the dimensions of the coop and run the OP is talking about, the chicks might have trouble finding food and water when they are so young.

 

[HerdAndHome]

It is good to keep the chicks in a smaller area than the coop or run when they are that young. The bigger an area is that they are staying, the less likely they are to find their food and water.

It is also good to keep them in an area where you can keep an eye on them more often, when they are that young they are much more prone to injury and dying.

That makes sense. Maybe I can move the "nursery" outside.

 

[GlicksChicks]

That makes sense. Maybe I can move the "nursery" outside.

That should work. Would you say your "nursery" is predator proof?

It would be a good idea to have it as close to your house as you can so it is easier to keep an eye on them.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

I brood mine outside as well. Here in Texas, the summer is warm enough to provide them heat without an extra source, but I provide one at night. I keep them in a brooder, not a run and coop as the OP is wondering about.

Depending on the dimensions of the coop and run the OP is talking about, the chicks might have trouble finding food and water when they are so young.

If they were locked in the coop for a day or so it wouldn’t be an issue. The OP’s coop in their pictures is smaller than my brooder which is just a 10ftx10ft room.

 

[GlicksChicks]

If they were locked in the coop for a day or so it wouldn’t be an issue. The OP’s coop in their pictures is smaller than my brooder which is just a 10ftx10ft room.

How many chickens do you usually raise at once?

 

[HollowOfWisps]

How many chickens do you usually raise at once?

I have raised anywhere from 4 chicks to 40 chicks at once.

 

[SplendidDogFeet]

My indoor setup isn't going as I'd hoped, but I definitely prefer spending my bonding time with the chicks inside instead of out in the Texas heat and humidity. It was over 80% humidity this morning and 40% now in the late afternoon.