Day-old chicks start inside or outside?

[HerdAndHome]

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.

The nursery/brooder is not. But I'd put it inside the run with the brooder plate. And try not to sleep outside that night.

 

[HerdAndHome]

True that SplendidDogFeet. Maybe I'll just do field trips outside.

 

[GlicksChicks]

The nursery/brooder is not. But I'd put it inside the run with the brooder plate. And try not to sleep outside that night.

You can have them out there during the day and inside at night until you feek comfortable leaving them out there.

It is always scary to leave the chicks anywhere for the first time, definitely over night.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I personally would move the brooder into the coop and have them outside the moment they arrive. But that makes a lot of people nervous.

A possible compromise is to start them inside and do that for roughly a week, and then transfer them to the coop for the rest of the brooding period, assuming the coop stays cool enough to brood them safely. At a week old they can handle navigating the floor space inside the coop without too much issue.

Thermometer in there is a good idea but I'd move it off the floor, as chickens may peck at it.