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If there is a drawback to this system, it would definitely be how much space it takes up in the brooder. But then if you think about it, with a heat lamp they'd be sleeping all over the place instead of in one place, so maybe it balances out in the end. I know that moving them outside made a world of difference space wise, and despite the change they seemed to appreciate the extra room.So night two we turned off the main light but left a light in the other room on, half the chicks high tailed it into the cave and the other half was huddled on top. I put those guys inside and then they stayed all night. House was 60 this am and they were out and about at first light. Here is a shot of them...
Worked on the small coop and will be moving them outside tomorrow, suppose to be 70 and we can't have them in the house any longer. They have quickly outgrown their brooder at 1 1/2 weeks (with the addition of the heat pad brooder). I have noticed since switching over to this their feathers have really come on now. I can only imagine what will happen when they get out to the coop. I will brood them inside mostly for another week with a few outings to the enclosed run. The main flock will be able to see them then. We will block off part of the run after that and then let them out into their side each day for another week or so then cut a hole or prop the door just big enough only they can fit through and then work towards integration.
That being said, I gave our Cornish 8 eggs this am after she has been consistently serious about her broodiness for a week. What changed it was she has been sleeping in the nest boxes, sitting on nothing or golf balls. So we will see what happens.
Good luck with the Cornish hatch! And let us know how your Littles do during the coop transition. At first mine huddled in a corner getting whiplash from trying to look at everything around them without moving anything but their little heads. Then one ventured forth and the rest, as they say, is history!