Outdoor brooder...

[JB8907]

This is my outdoor brooder. Started this thread just to show off mine but I'd like to see yours also... As I'm sure others would as well. I built this for free from other materials I had laying around from other projects.

It's an IBC with the top cut off and valve cut out. 2x4 and Hardie backer roof with extra hinges for the weight.

The fence is actually flower put holders a repurposed from the commercial greenhouse I have that in waiting to erect. Gate is self closing thanks to some spring loading hinges that I got from idk where. And now the lid is covered in 1/4" rubber a friend of mine for me from his job.

And the sheet metal piece is the door to keep critters out at night. It slides between the cane of the IBC and the plastic bladder.

I'll add more pics later.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I brood in the coop.....this panel hangs from the poop board, sectioning off the space. I use a mama heat pad for warmth. Chicks integrate at 3-4 weeks

 

[JB8907]

I liked that idea. My brooder will honestly end up being what holds the bedding for my big coop once it's done... But for now is their brooder.... I'll have to incorporate something like that into mine possibly... Or let mama do her job and only the strongest survive. I'm kind of OK with natural selection in some instances.... This being one of them. Lol

 

[rosemarythyme]

Mine is part of a prefab coop, recycled. Here's the full page on it.

My only suggestion with yours is to add more ventilation maybe? It's hard to tell where it is. I also personally would not use a heat lamp in that set up because the plastic is really going to hold it in. The idea with brooding outside is to have the chicks exposed to the elements earlier so they'll feather faster and be used to temperature swings sooner.

 

[aart]

I brood in the main coop from about 1 week after hatch, then integrate at 4-6 weeks.
So it's out of the house, but not really 'outside'.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

 

[JB8907]

View attachment 1702330

Mine is part of a prefab coop, recycled. Here's the full page on it.

My only suggestion with yours is to add more ventilation maybe? It's hard to tell where it is. I also personally would not use a heat lamp in that set up because the plastic is really going to hold it in. The idea with brooding outside is to have the chicks exposed to the elements earlier so they'll feather faster and be used to temperature swings sooner.

Will it actually cause them to feather faster?

I turn the lamp of in the day time. They'll only have it for about a week only is warming up here. I agree on more ventilation. They'll actually get some chicken wire put on the fence hopefully this weekend and then I'll let them walk around the run supervised.

 

[Meg-in-MT]

View attachment 1702310
I brood in the coop.....this panel hangs from the poop board, sectioning off the space. I use a mama heat pad for warmth. Chicks integrate at 3-4 weeks

Do you free range? I would to try brooding in the coop, but everyone is let out during the day. Of course that'd be preferable to me, except that the babies will probably get picked off.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Will it actually cause them to feather faster?

Supposedly they feather faster though I've not experimented with that... they do deal with temperature and weather swings better IMO, enough that even a little wind and rain is not a concern.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Do you free range? I would to try brooding in the coop, but everyone is let out during the day. Of course that'd be preferable to me, except that the babies will probably get picked off.

In my current location, "free ranging" consists of turning the birds out of their run and into the fenced backyard because we live in town. Previously though, I did live out of town on about 2 acres and I did regularly free range my flock so young chicks were out free ranging with the flot from about 5 to 6 weeks of age.
I've always allowed my hens to brood and raise their chicks as a normal part of the flock, so those birds were out free ranging with the flock from about day 3 when the hen would choose to take them out

 

[Meg-in-MT]

In my current location, "free ranging" consists of turning the birds out of their run and into the fenced backyard because we live in town. Previously though, I did live out of town on about 2 acres and I did regularly free range my flock so young chicks were out free ranging with the flot from about 5 to 6 weeks of age.
I've always allowed my hens to brood and raise their chicks as a normal part of the flock, so those birds were out free ranging with the flock from about day 3 when the hen would choose to take them out

I had a hen hatch a single chick last year and her and another Brahma took care of it until about 4 weeks and then abandoned him. I tried to keep him in the coop she went back to, but I assume she was trying to "wean" and kept running him off. Unfortunately, he only made it about two weeks in the barn and disappeared. I guess I should've taken over where she left off.

My broodies have not been hatching in the coop, I believe that's where I'm going wrong. If they are sitting somewhere other than the coop, do you recommend moving them to a broody cage inside? Or move them when they've hatched? We've got all manner of places to hide...

Worth noting that I don't deal with losses to predators as a general rule. Only when I've got chicks hatched outside. I've had Ravens pack them off, unaware that they'd snatch baby chicks.

I thank you for your time, Ol grey!