Kentucky people

[Mojo Chick'n]

Ok guys - if you could have a whole coop devoted to brooding chicks, what would you include?

Here's an idea (not in proportion, and not set in stone, I need ideas - too many windows? not enough windows? etc...)

I am thinking a good size for the building would be 8x10 at the smallest.

I am thinking of having a brooder box - enclosed by wood so there aren't any drafts at all (except the top open, of course). Maybe 4' x 4' and the two walls that face into the room would be 2 foot tall (may need to be taller).

Have an 8' x 6' brooder cage, and a 4' x 4' storage and entry area.

I have one window per wall - I don't want drafts, but then it gets hot, so I need fresh air, too. I have one of those portable oil heaters that I can set up in this coop in winter to heat the whole building, then I can use heat lamps just over the brooder box.

What do you all think? any suggestions are welcome....

ETA - do you think 8' x 10' is too small?

Meri

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

Ok, I want the brooder cage to be big like that, because I may use it for other stuff (of course

)

When not hatching or brooding chicks, I can use the building for quarantine, or for breeding, etc... The brooder box would then become storage area to leave me more room in the entryway. I could also use the 8' x 6' cage for quail or a turkey or two or some such when not in use for broody babies.

I want it to be warm enough to brood in winter - yet cool enough not to cook them in summer. It will be going behind the main coop down in the pasture, so it will be blocked from wind a bit, and in the shade at least half of the day (maybe more than half). Being blocked from most of the wind is why I put so many windows in it (one on each wall).

ETA the brooder cage might also be used for my meat babies - until butchering time (4 months), so probably would be holding about 6 at most adult sized birds at a time.)

Meri

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
Good God woman!! 8X10 is probably too big!!! I don't think dad's coop is that big for his huge flock!! His is too small btw, but you get the idea!

How long do you plan on keeping the chicks in the brooder house? I was thinking you might want to seperate the bigger pen, to keep really big ones away from really little ones? Like standard and bantam? Do you remember my little girl Nugget? If so, she is the same age as the chicks dad has running around the yard, and they are 3X's bigger than her. Granted, they are all at least 3 months old, and would not be in a brooder anymore, but you get the idea. If she were locked up with them, they would probably eat her!!

Just an idea...

<ETA--I said 'idea' a LOT in this post!!

<edited again because I can't spell today!! >

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

I had thought about two brooder boxes.

Maybe I can cut back the brooder cage and put in another brooder box.

eta - of course I could try really hard not to hatch bantams and biggies at the same time, LOL.

meri

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
An easy way to make sure it's cool enough is to just get a big box fan and stick it in the window. Or better yet, one each in opposite windows, so one can pull and one can push. An area that small would feel air-conditioned!!

I have an idea. this is kinda what I want to do for my breeders, just haven't worked all the kinks out yet. I was thinking of making a coop with a 'hallway' down the center, and stacked 'cages' on either side. I saw pics of Mrs. AK-Bird-Brain's set up,and it is really nice. You could put little chicks (i.e. younger) on the top cage, and older ones on the bottom. Then you wouldn't have to worry about them getting too cold, since heat rises, and put your windows closer to the ceiling, to let the heat out better in the summer. Just put wooden doors on the outsides of the windows, like shutters, with hardware cloth on the inside so the little peeps can't get out. Plus, a higher pen would make it easier to play with the babies! And since itty-bittys don't need to go outside, you could have hubby add small 'runs' to the bottom cages, so the older ones could get away. If you made your coop more like 10x10, it would be very doable! And what's 2 more feet anyway??

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
Yeah right, I can really see THAT happening!!

You would probably hatch a rock if it were possible, with all that space!!

<ETA> Excuse me?

WHAT kind of eggs are you setting for your FIRST TRY!!!

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

Ok, how about this set-up instead....

meri

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

Quote:
Yeah right, I can really see THAT happening!!

You would probably hatch a rock if it were possible, with all that space!!

<ETA> Excuse me?

WHAT kind of eggs are you setting for your FIRST TRY!!!

LOL yeah, I guess it's too much to hope for - see brooder coop #2 and figure if that works better. I can use the playpen inside the bigger cage to brooder some babies in until big enough to put right into the cage.


eta - with this set-up I can center the heater in the middle of the room pretty much
Meri

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

You know what? I'm thinking 8' x 10' will be too small

- maybe I ought to go 10' by 10' or 8' x 12'

My main coop is 8' x 12' so I can imagine this set-up working in that building.

OH, CSI time, be back in an hour..... never mind - missed it, it came on at 8 oclock

Meri

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

Better ?

I realy like this one - I am wondering what hubby woudl think fo the logistics of building it this way, though, LOL.

Oh, forgot to put in there - the entryway would actually be 4' x 6' - so not in proportion

Ok, edited pic ---

meri