How long do chickens need to stay in brooder?

[Asaburks]

Hi there, I was planning on raising my own baby chicks, and was wondering, how long do they need to stay in the brooder?

 

[lazy gardener]

The best place to brood chicks is right in their coop. This assures that they have plenty of room, (by the time they are 2 - 3 weeks old, they should have about 2 s.f. of open space per chick) saves them the stress of moving from brooder to coop (chickens hate change) and if given enough space they will wean themselves off heat. Many of us have made the switch to brooding in the coop (even if we already have adult chickens) and use a heating pad cave instead of a heat lamp. It is much safer, more natural, and mimics the heat provided by a broody hen. Chicks should be completely weaned off heat by 4 - 5 weeks of age, depending on the season. (I'd give them longer if it was early spring, late fall, or winter) In the summer, based on ambient temps and number of chicks, you could plan on having your chicks completely off heat by 3 weeks, and even sooner if you use a wool hen or a huddle box.

 

[azygous]

I'm with LG. A few years ago, many of us learned about the heating pad system of brooding and took it a step further and began brooding right outside in coop and run since the heating pad cave so closely mimics a broody hen.

So, in answer to your question, you do not ever have to brood in a container indoors. In fact, after I did it for the first time, I saw so many benefits I never realized were possible, I will never go back to putting baby chicks through the oppressive confinement of being brooded in a box under a hot light.

I wrote up an article about brooding outdoors linked below.

 

[Circle W Farms]

I keep mine in there until they are fully feathered. That usually takes 4 to 5 weeks.

 

[BirdHead]

Everything he said is perfect !

However it's opinion based what's best for a brooder, coop based if you want your chicks to pick up from the mothers,
Box based if you want chicks to pick up on humans

 

[BonDEEroo]

Usually until they are 6-7 weeks old and have most of their adult plumage. They can be allowed outside for increasing lengths of time if the weather's nice, from about 1-2 weeks old, but must be kept in a safe container they can't escape from - I use an old child's playpen turned upside down on a patch of grass in the sun. Provide shade and water so they don't get too hot. You'll know if they aren't enjoying themselves - they huddle and cheep noisily if they are too cold, or pant with beaks open if too hot.

 

[morganalefae]

I hatched my first eggs this year. I kept my chicks in a bedroom in a large plastic rabbit cage with sand as bedding I used what they call a electric hen to keep them warm and that set up was fine for my needs. As for allowing them outside i moved them out in the middle of July so bout 5-6 weeks but the weather was warm/hot that and we have a small insulated hardening off coop with attachable run so. My chicks were brahma's tho so unsure how others breeds would fair.

 

[shadowfox]

@azygous I checked out your article and want to make sure I understand everything correctly. I'm getting my first chicks in the mail next week. From the box I can take them straight to the coop. In the coop I'll have food, water, and the mamma brooder set up. Should I have pine shavings under the brooder for them or let them be on the bare ground, which I'm not planning on covering because it's mostly sand and gravel? Then I just go check on the chicks and make sure they're thriving and doing well.

My only hesitation would be that I've never raised chicks before and feel like I wouldn't be able to keep a close eye on them out in the coop.

 

[Ridgerunner]

If you follow the links in Azygous' signature you'll find a thread where they talk about it. I don't use a heating pad cave but it is an excellent method. My warnings are you want a pad that does not have an automatic shut-off after two hours and you want one that automatically comes back on after a power outage. People usually line them inside or out, you don't want to create something a chick can get stuck in. There can be questions on what heat setting to put it and how tall the cave needs to be.

What am I forgetting @azygous , you are the one with experience with them.

 

[azygous]

Blooie's thread on "Heating Pad for the Brooder" is almost always on the first page of this forum or can be found for sure on the second page, it's that popular. It has all the information you want on how to set up the "cave", materials, the best brands of heating pads, how to adjust it for day-olds crucial heat needs, how to set it up to avoid accidents, and much more. Lots of photos.