questions on making a brooder inside the coop

[junior67]

Last year I ordered 6 baby chicks so I built them a coop(big enough for 6 chickens) nest boxes and a grow out pen .While they were feathering out I built them a run. By the time I got it all finished they were laying.This year I ordered 8 more chicks ...

in Aug 2020 my husband said we should get chickens. I knew it was too late to start anything that year so told him I would research and we would the next year. So did my research etc. He was thinking 4 chickens. I got the order form from my local feed store in Feb 2021. I decided I wanted 8 chickens. LOL We ordered 8. came here to ask questios and was going to build a 4x8 coop. everyone said go bigger do at least 8x8.... so we did that. THANKFULLY! I decided I wanted some EE for hopefully colorful eggs. In March I convinced my husband to add 2 to our order. They came in April. Thankfully we got the coop and run done before they went out. Outside of coop was done and run was done so started taking them out here and there just had finishing things on inside of the coop and got that done.

I did tell him I was going to add more this year but don't think he thought as many as I did..... I know I didn't. I was going to have 14 tops......... ummmmm yup nope didn't happen.

I want to add onto my run even though it is big enough with a bit extra room but I want it even bigger to give them more space. He is fighting me a bit on that.

 

[McChooky]

I got started on a"pallet" brooder last week but then the weather turned bad .It rained for days and temperatures fell in the 30's . Hoping everything will dry out today so I can work on it tomorrow. My apple and raspberry cuttings are leafed out good.Typical spring weather lol

 

[Auntiejessi3]

I promised myself I would stop at 6.

Ya, I told my husband I'm only getting 3 babe, that was 2 years and 7 chickens ago

 

[McChooky]

Ya, I told my husband I'm only getting 3 babe, that was 2 years and 7 chickens ago

My first chick order was 100 (20 + yrs ago) I had every chick I ever wanted in that lot lol

 

[junior67]

Chicks are going out tomorrow moved my run cam inside to the brooder. Here is the view. Still need to put their food and another water in there.

 

[McChooky]

Chicks are going out tomorrow moved my run cam inside to the brooder. Here is the view. Still need to put their food and another water in there.

I'm keeping my chicks inside a week before putting them out in their brooder. I've still got a lot of work to do on it but I've got a couple more weeks to finish it. It rained earlier today so I didn't get a lot done. You've got a nice set up there.It looks like you're ready for them!

 

[junior67]

I'm keeping my chicks inside a week before putting them out in their brooder. I've still got a lot of work to do on it but I've got a couple more weeks to finish it. It rained earlier today so I didn't get a lot done. You've got a nice set up there.It looks like you're ready for them!

I set it up the middle of last week, picked up the chicks last Fri and was going to put them out on Tue. But they just still seemed too little so kept them in another couple days. But they NEED more room now so I need to put them out. but I am home tomorrow afternoon and night and Sat so I can check on them if I need to. But yes I will have them a week before they go out (now since that wasn't the plan. LOL)

 

[McChooky]

I set it up the middle of last week, picked up the chicks last Fri and was going to put them out on Tue. But they just still seemed too little so kept them in another couple days. But they NEED more room now so I need to put them out. but I am home tomorrow afternoon and night and Sat so I can check on them if I need to. But yes I will have them a week before they go out (now since that wasn't the plan. LOL)

I'm a little OCD about chickens which is funny because no one else likes them in my family.

 

[junior67]

I'm a little OCD about chickens which is funny because no one else likes them in my family.

my husband confuses me. I think he kinda likes them (he was the one that said we should get them) but he more just goes with what I want and what makes me happy. haahaa. My 17 yr old likes them as chicks but then could care less...... and my 19 yr old says she likes them but doesn't do much with them or spend much time with them. I just love them and doing things for them and setting things up etc.

 

[McChooky]

2 sides of this brooder will be covered in plywood .A third side will have a clean out door. Its the side that attaches to the run that concerns me because the pallet run has only got hardware cloth on it and that will let too much cold air in the brooder.A window on that wall would allow the flock to see the chicks in the brooder and keep the cold air out of the brooder. I guess I'll be taking some measurements of the wall tomorrow so I can find a window that'll fit.I don't have any updated photos of the brooder since I got the sides up today.The run is on the left in this photo.