Is this brooder big enough? (pics)

[azygous]

You're doing a great job, and it's obvious from the care you're taking with your new chicks that you really love them!

They will be fine with your present set-up for a little longer. But you can make them very happy if you could rig up a temporary run outside. If the temperature is mild, you could let the older ones out to run and fly. If you get a day where it's 70, no wind chill, and sunny, they would be fine, and you'd have a lot of enjoyment watching their joyful antics. At first they'll need a shelter to scoot into to cuddle together if they need some warmth, and I usually leave the pet carrier in the pen with them. They also will be timid of the open space, so will be ducking into the shelter often at first.

From the pics, the older ones look fully feathered. If they still have down on their backs, they'll still need a heat source. In another week, they should be fully decked out in feathers. You're lucky the different ages get along. And also lucky you won't have to deal with integrating them into an established flock. That's a tense business!

 

[Judy]

They should have about 2.5 sq ft per chicken, for the older ones, so you can skimp a little because of the younger ones. The older ones will be ready for the coop in two weeks at the most, and really don't need that heat, they need to be getting acclimated to cooler temps and even the outdoors.

They no doubt cuddle together at night, at least, just because this is how chicks tend to sleep. Given that, I'd try to keep temps as cool as they will tolerate.

 

[jenesis536]

I have to agree that looks small... we had 6 in a brooder that was a little over 2 x 3 and by 5-6 weeks they were begging to get out. It would be nice if they had one area for food and water, one for heat and one area if they wanted to get away from the bulb if they needed to. Ditto on getting a red bulb.

 

[babyrnlc]

We moved our 5 week old chicks into an outside brooder/cage. I used the metal cubes and zip ties (you can get the cubes for 20) The storage shelf things. I put a perch in and a small trash on its side for them to go into if they want and have the heat lamp incase it gets cold.
Here is a picture of the size of the cage I made. You put the cubes together with zip ties. Then you leave one side or cube open on three sides and use clips to secure it. I learned it when making my indoor rabbit cages. It is dog proof, but I am not sure if it would be other predator proof (I did the bottom as well so if the dogs got into the shed and knocked it over, they could not get in) I also put some small plastic rabbit fence around the bottom so the chicks would not stick their heads through (the wire is one inch openings.)

This is not my picture:

Here is the plastic stuff I was talking about: (you can see it in the background. They are sitting on the top of the trash can. I have bedding inside it and they sleep in there sometimes.

They have been outside a week. (Well in the shed) I bring them outside when the weather is at least 60. They love it. They practice flying and scratching the ground. They do not even go near the light anymore (except to eat) I may take the light off. It is pretty high up anyway.

We also have some 2 week chicks. I plan on moving them out to the cage in the shed when they hit 4 weeks. (I am hoping the others will be fully feathered and can go into the coop. I have a coop sectioned off in the big coop and have a 10 week old chick in there that has started mingling with the two hens, so if she can go with the big girls, or if she gets along with the babies, then I will put them in there.

AND I will then have my living room to myself! (well and my husband and 6 kids lol)