So, last month I built my adult chickens a new coop, which they had refused to use as long as their tiny pre-fab coop was available. Yesterday was eviction day, which was chaotic to say the least. (My rooster bit me three times as I was trying to show him where to lead the ladies for the night! Many dinosaur screeches this morning as they wanted their old nesting box back.)
But I had to, because Hubby Dearest said the first batch of chicks, which I brooded for 8 weeks indoors, were smelly and dusty (they just smelled like chickens
) and that no more would be raised our house. So I moved them from his office (65-68*F) to the freshly cleaned, fully enclosed, pre-fab coop yesterday, after outfitting it with a thick layer of fresh pine shavings, a chick-viewing window for the adults, a thermometer, and three heat tables. Since I live in PA, the low outdoor temperature for the night was 46*F. The ambient temp inside the chick's coop didn't drop below 55*F, and of course it was 85-95 degrees under the heat tables. (I have them set up slanted because of the chicks' age and size differences; they range from 4 to 11 days old as of today. This way they have a gradient and a choice where to rest for optimal temp control.) They were huddled up under there, sleeping quietly, so I assumed they were fine when I left them.
The chicks are alive and well today, and having a ball as it's presently 65*F outside and 77*F inside their coop. Here are some photos (I can't get them to attach to this post):Setup photos
But because I was worried and made a Facebook post to a chicken group last night, asking if they would be alright, I am now being eaten alive on there. One person even told me I should have "done more research and planned better before buying animals." I think maybe they just read "outside" and "55*F" and stopped reading, and don't actually understand my set up? I don't really see how it's any different from a hen raising early spring chicks genuinely outdoors, or people successfully brooding chicks in their unheated garages with heat lamps. Plus I've seen "outdoor" setups on here, as well, with heating pads and straw tunnels and such, and their chicks did fine... I may need to make more modifications-- maybe another heat source, maybe a tunnel-- as outdoor temps are supposed to drop into the low 30s this week. But I can't fathom why it wouldn't work ?
So I'm posting here to get your thoughts. I'd also love to see more "outdoor" brooder setups from you guys as well!
But I had to, because Hubby Dearest said the first batch of chicks, which I brooded for 8 weeks indoors, were smelly and dusty (they just smelled like chickens
) and that no more would be raised our house. So I moved them from his office (65-68*F) to the freshly cleaned, fully enclosed, pre-fab coop yesterday, after outfitting it with a thick layer of fresh pine shavings, a chick-viewing window for the adults, a thermometer, and three heat tables. Since I live in PA, the low outdoor temperature for the night was 46*F. The ambient temp inside the chick's coop didn't drop below 55*F, and of course it was 85-95 degrees under the heat tables. (I have them set up slanted because of the chicks' age and size differences; they range from 4 to 11 days old as of today. This way they have a gradient and a choice where to rest for optimal temp control.) They were huddled up under there, sleeping quietly, so I assumed they were fine when I left them.The chicks are alive and well today, and having a ball as it's presently 65*F outside and 77*F inside their coop. Here are some photos (I can't get them to attach to this post):Setup photos
But because I was worried and made a Facebook post to a chicken group last night, asking if they would be alright, I am now being eaten alive on there. One person even told me I should have "done more research and planned better before buying animals." I think maybe they just read "outside" and "55*F" and stopped reading, and don't actually understand my set up? I don't really see how it's any different from a hen raising early spring chicks genuinely outdoors, or people successfully brooding chicks in their unheated garages with heat lamps. Plus I've seen "outdoor" setups on here, as well, with heating pads and straw tunnels and such, and their chicks did fine... I may need to make more modifications-- maybe another heat source, maybe a tunnel-- as outdoor temps are supposed to drop into the low 30s this week. But I can't fathom why it wouldn't work ?
So I'm posting here to get your thoughts. I'd also love to see more "outdoor" brooder setups from you guys as well!
