Official BYC Poll: Do You Brood Chicks Indoors or Outdoors?

[BYC Project Manager]

Brooding chicks is an exciting part of raising chickens, but where you do it can make all the difference! Do you prefer the controlled environment of indoor brooding, or do you let nature take its course outdoors?

Vote in our poll and let us know how you raise your little fluffballs!

Further Reading:

• Guide to Letting Broody Hens Hatch and Raise Chicks
• Reasons for Tossing Out Your Indoor Brooder and Start Raising Your Chicks Outdoors
• Yes, You Certainly Can Brood Chicks Outdoors
• Brooding Chicks: The First 6 Weeks
• Setting up a Chick Brooder

(Check out more exciting Official BYC Polls HERE!)

 

[Ridgerunner]

Two responses, heated brooder and broody hens.

I let my broody hens hatch and raise chicks when I can. They hatch and raise them in the flock, no isolation.

But I don't have broody hens in early spring so I raise them in a brooder that is in the coop. I use a heat lamp to keep one spot warm enough and have a large (3' x 6') ventilated brooder so part of it can cool off in the warm weather. That keep a spot warm enough in the cold weather and a spot cool enough in hot weather. Usually around 5 weeks of age I let them out of the brooder so they are then raised with the flock.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Usually indoors for three weeks, then outdoors a few weeks before integrating with flock. BUT - the next batch is coming in July. I reckon they're going straight to the outdoor brooder.

 

[SourRoses]

After some trial & error, and all-seasons hatching, the method that works best for us is to keep them inside the first few days in a big clear plastic tub. We can watch that they're eating, drinking, pooing, and monitor their temperature. It also gives me time to solidify chick IDs, lol.
Plus the fluffy new-chick age passes so fast, I don't want to miss out on any of it!

Then we move them to a much bigger, wheeled clear tote on the outside table. Again so we can see them, but now they get plenty of sunshine and fresh air, and we don't have smells inside.

Last night I moved our Valentines batch (2 weeks) to the actual outdoor brooder next to the coop. It has an 8x8 HW cloth run they will get to enjoy in the coming days. It feels (I imagine) like sending your kids off to preschool for the first time. "Be safe! Make good choices!"

When we have broodies, they start off in the outdoor brooder, so we don't get to see the babies as much.

 

[rosemarythyme]

While my very first batch was brooded indoors the next 3 were all outdoors from the starts, so I chose:

Outdoors only – Fresh air and space from the start!​

Though of course they have a heat source and a climate protected area available: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/short-on-time-recycle-a-prefab-brooder.73985/

I even figured out how to handle rain, so my last 2 batches didn't have to get moved into the garage for rain (note how dark/wet the run is, but the inside of the brooder is 95% dry - the bucket is there to protect the heat pad controller).

 

[NagemTX]

Right now until I get the next hoopcoop up and turn the old one into a shed Its a mix. First 2 to 3 weeks in house as long as its not more than six. After that its to the garage for the next 3 weeks then out to the integration pen for about a week or two.

Once I get the old hoopcoop changed over to a shed I'll be brooding in it using the galvanized water troughs.

 

[Debbie292d]

Our silkies are in brooders indoors for about three to four weeks.

Then we start putting them out in a grow-out pen for a few hours a day, weather permitting, for about two weeks until they seem able to stay out overnight. There's a cozy coop in the hutch of the pens, and they run in and out several times a day, either for fun or to warm up if it's breezy or a bit chilly out.

 

[ci_cyfarth]

This is my second round of chickening, and both times we've brooded indoors. The first time was in a pen in the garage. This time it's a pen in the downstairs bathroom/laundry room.

This second arrangement has been particularly good since it means I'm interacting with them in passing several times a day in addition to daily handling and poop checks.

 

[DeannaOR]

Brooding chicks is an exciting part of raising chickens, but where you do it can make all the difference! Do you prefer the controlled environment of indoor brooding, or do you let nature take its course outdoors?

Vote in our poll and let us know how you raise your little fluffballs!

View attachment 4062457​

Further Reading:

• Guide to Letting Broody Hens Hatch and Raise Chicks
• Reasons for Tossing Out Your Indoor Brooder and Start Raising Your Chicks Outdoors
• Yes, You Certainly Can Brood Chicks Outdoors
• Brooding Chicks: The First 6 Weeks
• Setting up a Chick Brooder

(Check out more exciting Official BYC Polls HERE!)

 

[DeannaOR]

A little of both...we set up the brooder on our sun porch. I also let my hens brood if they want.