New here and I've got questions

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Collieoftheborder

In the Brooder
Aug 6, 2025
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Hello! My name is Lisa and I am so excited to be back on a real forum (like the olden days haha)

My husband and I live in Kansas with our 3 pets. We have 2 dogs and a house rabbit. We just purchased 5(ish) acres 2 months ago and now that the house is livable I am chomping at the bit to start my little homestead. Beginning with chickens, of course.

I did 4H with my chickens in my teen years but it's been almost 20 years since I've had the pleasure of chicken tending.

Here is my plan so far:

I am going to be ordering 25 Black Astrolorp, 3 Buff Orpingtons, 2 Barred Rocks from a hatchery in October. Yes I've double checked to make sure they will have them available. I will be brooding in the house for the first couple of weeks and then I'm considering moving them to the garage (still in brooder) until they are fully feathered but I fear it could be a bit drafty with the big garage door being open. My brooder as of right now is going to be these two huge washer/dryer boxes that I am going to modify. The full size will be about 8 feet long and 3.5 ft wide. I will be using premier 1 brooder plates.

My coop is 14x10 and has 4 windows. It needs work on the roof, new floor, new door, and of course a run. It's currently full of wasp nests so I can't get in there yet to get to work, not until it's a bit cooler. I plan on free ranging when I'm home (which is about 4 days per week) and then also evenings every day.

The thing I'm having the most trouble with is this brooding situation. I always had my brooder in the house when I was a kid but I'm not so sure I want to fully commit to that. They'd be in the living room. But I also don't think they should be in the coop at 2 weeks old in the brooder.

Thanks ya'll! I'm so excited to get chickens I can hardly stand it :wee
 

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Hello Lisa, and welcome to BYC! :frow Glad you joined.

I have never once brooded chicks in my house. There is absolutely no reason you cannot brood them directly in your coop with the brooder plate. Everybody, and I do mean everybody, will be much happier that way. I cannot fathom the amount of dust and stench 30 chicks would cause inside your house.

It won't be too cold either. I have brooded chicks outdoors with a brooder plate in late April / early May in New York when the temperatures dipped into the low 20s at night and they all thrived. As long as their space is draft free and kept dry they will do very well.

I used one brooder plate with a towel thrown over it for 15 chicks. You with need at least 2 large plates pushed together to cover 30 chicks.
chicks-1.jpg


1 week olds.jpg


I would also take the time to make 2 or three of these. They help tremendously with keeping the brooder dry and the chicks water clean. You can have an electrolyte solution in one and fresh in the other. You just raise the bottle one chain link at a time as the chicks grow.
baby bottle close up.png
 
Last edited:
Collieoftheborder said:
Hello! My name is Lisa and I am so excited to be back on a real forum (like the olden days haha)

My husband and I live in Kansas with our 3 pets. We have 2 dogs and a house rabbit. We just purchased 5(ish) acres 2 months ago and now that the house is livable I am chomping at the bit to start my little homestead. Beginning with chickens, of course.

I did 4H with my chickens in my teen years but it's been almost 20 years since I've had the pleasure of chicken tending.

Here is my plan so far:

I am going to be ordering 25 Black Astrolorp, 3 Buff Orpingtons, 2 Barred Rocks from a hatchery in October. Yes I've double checked to make sure they will have them available. I will be brooding in the house for the first couple of weeks and then I'm considering moving them to the garage (still in brooder) until they are fully feathered but I fear it could be a bit drafty with the big garage door being open. My brooder as of right now is going to be these two huge washer/dryer boxes that I am going to modify. The full size will be about 8 feet long and 3.5 ft wide. I will be using premier 1 brooder plates.

My coop is 14x10 and has 4 windows. It needs work on the roof, new floor, new door, and of course a run. It's currently full of wasp nests so I can't get in there yet to get to work, not until it's a bit cooler. I plan on free ranging when I'm home (which is about 4 days per week) and then also evenings every day.

The thing I'm having the most trouble with is this brooding situation. I always had my brooder in the house when I was a kid but I'm not so sure I want to fully commit to that. They'd be in the living room. But I also don't think they should be in the coop at 2 weeks old in the brooder.

Thanks ya'll! I'm so excited to get chickens I can hardly stand it :wee
Click to expand...
Welcome! I'm new around here too, and having a blast on my new chick journey. Your coop building looks like it's going to be perfect! Congratulations on the new homestead!
 
Greetings & Salutations. Welcome Lisa.

As others, I agree with @DobieLover . Are there any windows or openings on the other side? If not, you may need to add some up high. You will also want to make sure the roosts will not have a draft from the windows and ventilation on the other side. All openings covered with hardware cloth.
Enjoy your upcoming flock.

This is a wonderful site on which to Learn and enjoy. We are pleased to have you in the community.
 

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