I wanted to get some opinions from folks who have used the EcoGlow Chick Brooder (20 and 50). I plan to raise between 5 and 10 chicks on any given spring. I wasn't sure how long I should be using the EcoGlow and which size EcoGlow I should use. I plan to get chicks in late March/early April (Wisconsin weather) and keeping the chicks in our house until they are 4 weeks old. At that point, move them outside.
This is what I was thinking as far as a setup at 4 weeks old when I transfer the chicks to the chicken coop. I don't have a huge coop (6x7), but was thinking that when the chicks were 4 weeks old (give or take), I would make a brooder in my chicken coop. Below are some pictures to get the idea of what I am planning. I plan to put a big poop board with Sweet PDZ (about 3 feet from the back to the coop out to the window at about the same height as the lower roost (28 inches from floor). Then I plan to build a cage just below that at approximately 3 ft. deep x 5 foot wide. This would give the adult chickens 18 inches to go in/out of the coop pop door (left back wall) while still keeping the chicks safe behind wire framing. Does this make sense?
I plan to make the brooding area removable so that during the year when I don't have chicks, then the adult birds have more space. I figured it wouldn't be too bad cutting their floor space a little for 1-2 months or so while brooding? I am not sure if the 3x5 space is enough for 5 chicks to brood out?
This is my first time and want to be sure that the chicks and adult girls have plenty of time to be around each other but not touching before they are big enough to be on their own in there. Would love any tips, etc. if anyone has it. The only other alternative is to put the brooder on the left side and that could end up being 5 x 3 also - just turned in a different direction. I figured that under the roost would be the best place since it will have the large PDZ poop tray as the ceiling. At what approximate age could all the girls be consolidated together? I know I want to keep the chicks in the brooder area for at least a month, but since I have never raised chicks before, I have no guess as to their size at 8, 12, or 16 weeks old.
Wendy
This is what I was thinking as far as a setup at 4 weeks old when I transfer the chicks to the chicken coop. I don't have a huge coop (6x7), but was thinking that when the chicks were 4 weeks old (give or take), I would make a brooder in my chicken coop. Below are some pictures to get the idea of what I am planning. I plan to put a big poop board with Sweet PDZ (about 3 feet from the back to the coop out to the window at about the same height as the lower roost (28 inches from floor). Then I plan to build a cage just below that at approximately 3 ft. deep x 5 foot wide. This would give the adult chickens 18 inches to go in/out of the coop pop door (left back wall) while still keeping the chicks safe behind wire framing. Does this make sense?
I plan to make the brooding area removable so that during the year when I don't have chicks, then the adult birds have more space. I figured it wouldn't be too bad cutting their floor space a little for 1-2 months or so while brooding? I am not sure if the 3x5 space is enough for 5 chicks to brood out?
This is my first time and want to be sure that the chicks and adult girls have plenty of time to be around each other but not touching before they are big enough to be on their own in there. Would love any tips, etc. if anyone has it. The only other alternative is to put the brooder on the left side and that could end up being 5 x 3 also - just turned in a different direction. I figured that under the roost would be the best place since it will have the large PDZ poop tray as the ceiling. At what approximate age could all the girls be consolidated together? I know I want to keep the chicks in the brooder area for at least a month, but since I have never raised chicks before, I have no guess as to their size at 8, 12, or 16 weeks old.
Wendy
