questions on making a brooder inside the coop

[Ridgerunner]

I posted photos of my brooder in the coop under a droppings board above. I only have one regular-sized window in my 8' x 12', that window is on the north side of the coop and I'm north of the equator. I have a red heat lamp when I'm brooding young chicks but no light when I'm using it as a broody buster or isolating a chicken that needs isolating. With four windows in your coop I have trouble imagining it being all that dark under there but you are looking at it, I'm not.

If you decide you do need to add light, I'd agree with a small LED on a timer for daylight only. You don't want to disturb the other chickens' sleep. A light at night could mess with their egg laying.

 

[junior67]

I posted photos of my brooder in the coop under a droppings board above. I only have one regular-sized window in my 8' x 12', that window is on the north side of the coop and I'm north of the equator. I have a red heat lamp when I'm brooding young chicks but no light when I'm using it as a broody buster or isolating a chicken that needs isolating. With four windows in your coop I have trouble imagining it being all that dark under there but you are looking at it, I'm not.

If you decide you do need to add light, I'd agree with a small LED on a timer for daylight only. You don't want to disturb the other chickens' sleep. A light at night could mess with their egg laying.

Ya I don't use a heat lamp so no light with chicks. I only use a MHP for heat.

Ya don't want anything very bright and would only use it during the day. Normally I don't use any artificial light in my coop even in the winter. I like to keep things natural for them

I will try to get a pic under there on a sunny day to see if it shows how light or dark it is under there. Today is dreary and cloudy here.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/change-of-plans.1454019/#post-24204253

Here are my adventures in chick integration, lol...about half way through is the new chick brooder me and the hubby built under our poop boards...you'll do great!

 

[junior67]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/change-of-plans.1454019/#post-24204253

Here are my adventures in chick integration, lol...about half way through is the new chick brooder me and the hubby built under our poop boards...you'll do great!

Thanks! I remember reading through some of that thread but then think I lost it. I don't remember seeing your updated one. Thank you for posting so I can see it. Yours looks very bright in there. I am hoping mine is. Hopefully I am just over thinking everything.

I am waiting for it to warm up here so I can get started on getting mine set. I need to double check how high my poop boards are so I can order the dog pen I am using to block it off. Then once it warms up I will clean out the coop completely, put that up and put in new shavings and keep that area blocked off (they very rarely go under there anyways so I don't think it will be a big deal) so it is clean and ready for when the chicks come!!!!!!!!! Just about 5 more weeks, feels like a lifetime but hopefully where I am going to hatch some chicks to be ready about when the ones I ordered come it will help pass the time! I started collecting the eggs I will try to hatch today and will set them in 2 weeks!

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Thanks! I remember reading through some of that thread but then think I lost it. I don't remember seeing your updated one. Thank you for posting so I can see it. Yours looks very bright in there. I am hoping mine is. Hopefully I am just over thinking everything.

I am waiting for it to warm up here so I can get started on getting mine set. I need to double check how high my poop boards are so I can order the dog pen I am using to block it off. Then once it warms up I will clean out the coop completely, put that up and put in new shavings and keep that area blocked off (they very rarely go under there anyways so I don't think it will be a big deal) so it is clean and ready for when the chicks come!!!!!!!!! Just about 5 more weeks, feels like a lifetime but hopefully where I am going to hatch some chicks to be ready about when the ones I ordered come it will help pass the time! I started collecting the eggs I will try to hatch today and will set them in 2 weeks!

You're welcome! The top half of the front of my coop is completely open covered in HWC that's why it's so bright. This is my second go round with integrating this way so I'm way less stressed than the first time, lol. You'll do just fine! Can't wait to see yours all set up and ready to go

 

[junior67]

so I got out to measure under my poop board and it is only 19" under it (guessing it should have been 18" and I didn't put it up exactly right. LOL) there is a lip on the side so up to the top it is 21".

Now is my problem that I would love some help with. I was planning on using a dog exercise playpen to block under it off for the brooder. I have found 1 that is 18" so can put a board under it to make it around 20" so I can secure it to the side of the poop board, but the door opens down low so afraid that would be hard with shavings in the coop blocking the door..... (I will post a link to that exercise pen). https://www.walmart.com/ip/Vibrant-Life-42-H-Indoor-Outdoor-Pet-Exercise-Play-Pen/872041140 (it is out of stock right now too but hoping it is back before i need it)

I also found one that is 24" high and the door is higher so I think it would open ok but that would stick up 3" over the poop boards so my current chickens would have to jump over it which I think may get them hurt. I could try to have my husband bend the exercise pen to make it around 19" so hopefully it will tuck under the poop boards since in order for the door to be higher he would have to bend the top of it which would also mean bending the door so not sure how that would work......... (will post a link here as well) https://www.chewy.com/frisco-wire-d...IijNPAU7_MbKWOb0ltmoA3s9SRrlNVm0aAiscEALw_wcB

Or found this pop up type of one that may work but it is also too tall so would have to be "squished" down under the poop boards so not sure how that would work... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B094TW2QD...sKuKrGVdwdcbu8YK4u9Pch2D1uxz8XfciA&pldnSite=1


I also found these but would have to figure out how to make it fit since they are only 14" high so either put a board under it or 2 overlapping to make the 19-21" high. https://www.amazon.com/HOMIDEC-Play...pet+play+yard+with+door&qid=1647226983&sr=8-2

What would you do or is there something else I can use to block off under there that won't break the bank? I would build something but don't think I am going to have time before the chicks come with how the weather has been and with me working now.......

 

[junior67]

anyone? Any ideas or help? LOL

 

[Auntiejessi3]

anyone? Any ideas or help? LOL

I searched and can't find anything besides what you found. All I can say is 1x2's don't cost that much

 

[junior67]

I searched and can't find anything besides what you found. All I can say is 1x2's don't cost that much

Thanks. that is what I was thinking if I went with the 18". My fear with that one is the door looks so low so think even raising it 1-2" it would still be hard to open with the shavings. Guess I can always push the shavings out of the way in front of the door when I need to open it.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Thanks. that is what I was thinking if I went with the 18". My fear with that one is the door looks so low so think even raising it 1-2" it would still be hard to open with the shavings. Guess I can always push the shavings out of the way in front of the door when I need to open it.

My built in brooders door is only an inch up and that's exactly what I do push the shavings to the side with my foot, lol