Eureeka! Or no go??

[gabbondante]

So, my chicks are due to be delivered on Apr/16 (we live in NJ). My coop and run are complete - thanks, hubbie! - as well as my brooder box (er, crate). Last night, I had a bit of a eureeka moment. Could I use my coop as the brooder?! Ok, stay with me - my coop has electric running to it, so I can hook up my Premier One heating plate as well as supplemental light from a bulb when needed. It is well caulked against leaks and unwanted drafts as well. I also will provide lower roosts for them while they are little. I feel like this would kill two birds with one stone (actually, this is probably a bad saying for this situation...) in that they don't create a dust bowl in my house and get coop/roost trained at the same time! So, what do you think - is this feasible, or have I gone off the rails here?

 

[Ridgerunner]

My permanent 3’ x 6’ brooder is built into the coop. The top serves as my droppings board. I heat one end and let the rest cool down as it will. Sometimes that is a whole lot cooler than under the heat. That way they can find their own comfort area. Most of the time they spend their first few days in the heated area but before too long they are playing all over, just going back when they need to warm up.

As long as you provide food, water, predator protection, protection from the elements (which means good draft protection as well as keeping them dry), and a heated area they can go to, there is nothing stopping you from brooding in the coop.

 

[donrae]

It's a wonderful idea! I never brood chicks in the house--too much yuck factor for me. I can't brood in my actual coop with my current set up--I have no way to protect the chicks from the older hens, but that's the only reason. If you don't have older birds to worry about, you should be good to go! You've got your plate for a warm spot, sounds dry and draft free, safe from predators--that's all they need.