After reading maybe half of this thread, I thought I would ask my questions and hope that someone might be able to give advice. We will be receiving 4 ready to lay pullets and 40 meat chicks (30 white rock x and 10 rangers) in the spring. The permanent coop/run for the layers is built and measures 8'x12' run with a 8'x4' elevated coop that's just over 2' off the ground.
My questions:
1- Should we brood the meat birds temporary under the elevated coop. I would built a temporary brooding box and close off the entire under the coop section as a run for them, than move them to their tractor at around 3-4 weeks
2- Or: should we brood them in their tractor. Again, build a temporary brooder box, or simply put clear plastic all around the run (leaving ventilation). We can leave it parked near the garage so that the MHP can be plugged. (Tractor will be 8'x10')
3- Other options are the unheated garage, or the covered porch that we cover in clear plastic for winter (although this is my summer bonus room, so don't really want the dust).
We will only receive them beginning of June, weather is usually close to freezing at night, up to high 60s during the day.
I’ve included a pic of the almost finished coop.
Thank you! This site has been awesome!
