Outdoor brooder; opinions needed

[redinator]

I'm planning to buy this https://www.walmart.com/ip/seort/16208420251?sid=a7c50d06-b964-4dce-b60d-ac02aad79c9a and use it as an outdoor brooder

I already have this https://www.chewy.com/coziwow-collapsible-small-pet-hutch/dp/579726 foldable playpen so chicks can have access to the ground when the weather permits. I'm hoping the doors line up properly so it can be a permanent set up and I no longer need to brood chicks in the house.

This setup will be next to to house so I can us and extension cord for a brooder plate or two and a light.

I like the two layer design so I can brood chicks of different ages or separate chicks that might be unwell or isolate a more dominant chick temporarily. There's also a ramp that connects the two layers so if everyone is healthy and active they can have access to the whole thing.

We don't have predators so that's no a concern. Is there anything I'm not considering that might make this unusable for chicks, or that might need to be altered to make it work.

Once the chicks are 3-4 weeks old and no longer need the brooder plates they'll get moved into what I'm calling the grow out run (which I've already used for several batches of chicks):

 

[Crazy Chicken Keeper]

I'm planning to buy this https://www.walmart.com/ip/seort/16208420251?sid=a7c50d06-b964-4dce-b60d-ac02aad79c9a and use it as an outdoor brooder

I already have this https://www.chewy.com/coziwow-collapsible-small-pet-hutch/dp/579726 foldable playpen so chicks can have access to the ground when the weather permits. I'm hoping the doors line up properly so it can be a permanent set up and I no longer need to brood chicks in the house.

This setup will be next to to house so I can us and extension cord for a brooder plate or two and a light.

I like the two layer design so I can brood chicks of different ages or separate chicks that might be unwell or isolate a more dominant chick temporarily. There's also a ramp that connects the two layers so if everyone is healthy and active they can have access to the whole thing.

We don't have predators so that's no a concern. Is there anything I'm not considering that might make this unusable for chicks, or that might need to be altered to make it work.

Once the chicks are 3-4 weeks old and no longer need the brooder plates they'll get moved into what I'm calling the grow out run (which I've already used for several batches of chicks):
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Looked at the link. looks like a great investment! Look everywhere has predators, I thought I had no staots round her ebut lost a chick toi a stoat4 nights ago am now trying to catch it. I would buy it, but only have chicks under 5 weeks old out awya from wind or with your eye on them. I should probably get one too!

 

[redinator]

I have two dogs that have constant access to the yard, anything that doesn't belong is quickly dispatched or chased off.

 

[Penpal]

I like that the Coziwow folds up flat.

 

[redinator]

I like that the Coziwow folds up flat.

Well sort of, flat enough to move out of the way when it's not in use, which is rarely.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Your idea sounds fine, though realistically I wouldn't expect chicks to use the ramp at all. But my brooder is pretty similar to a ground level rabbit hutch.

 

[redinator]

Your idea sounds fine, though realistically I wouldn't expect chicks to use the ramp at all. But my brooder is pretty similar to a ground level rabbit hutch.

I was wondering about that aspect of it. This is the only one with two levels that had a 'trapdoor' that could be closed off. I mainly plan to use them separately. I just needed a way to divide young chicks if there's too big of an age gap to put them all together.

 

[SourRoses]

It's not a bad idea, but the main limitation I see is that it's only 17" deep. That's a foot and a half, roughly.
Not a concern for small chicks, but they will outgrow that width more quickly and the first indication will be arguments as they have less space to get around each other.

We did something like this but with a dog house that's 30' deep by 44'. Modded it with ventilation and an auto pop door so they can be out in their run from sunup to sundown. Which helps a lot with space requirements, whereas a variable (manual open) schedule getting out to the run can bring on a lot of adolescent angst.
They're about 7 weeks (9 Chicks) and have outgrown that as a house. But I have to finish modding the next stage up (coop).
The batch behind them is super ready to move to the dog house at 2 weeks, although I've made them a little temporary run... And their brooder is about a foot and a half by 3 ft. Also 9 of those chicks. Just for a reference point.
When the brooder proper is only for sleeping, the space requirements come down to stressful pecking order at bedtime, around the feed and waterer as they start to jump around and land on those eating, and the frequency the brooder needs cleaned out.
So we have the feed and water out in the run as soon as we can.
Just sharing our experience.

 

[redinator]

It's not a bad idea, but the main limitation I see is that it's only 17" deep. That's a foot and a half, roughly.
Not a concern for small chicks, but they will outgrow that width more quickly and the first indication will be arguments as they have less space to get around each other.

We did something like this but with a dog house that's 30' deep by 44'. Modded it with ventilation and an auto pop door so they can be out in their run from sunup to sundown. Which helps a lot with space requirements, whereas a variable (manual open) schedule getting out to the run can bring on a lot of adolescent angst.
They're about 7 weeks (9 Chicks) and have outgrown that as a house. But I have to finish modding the next stage up (coop).
The batch behind them is super ready to move to the dog house at 2 weeks, although I've made them a little temporary run... And their brooder is about a foot and a half by 3 ft. Also 9 of those chicks. Just for a reference point.
When the brooder proper is only for sleeping, the space requirements come down to stressful pecking order at bedtime, around the feed and waterer as they start to jump around and land on those eating, and the frequency the brooder needs cleaned out.
So we have the feed and water out in the run as soon as we can.
Just sharing our experience.

This two level set up is only intended to be used until they're off heat. We don't have electricity in the runs and solar stuff would be useless since they're covered by trees.

Younger chicks would be on the top; older chicks on the bottom with access to the ground during the day, weather permitting.

Once it's setup and the feeder, water, and brooder plate are added I'll have a better idea of how many chicks it will hold at one time, my rough guess in no more than 15 per level, probably less.