questions on making a brooder inside the coop

[junior67]

I'm not exactly able to guess you've got enough space for your project, but in concept, it IS a bit easier to integrate your young pullets into the flock that way. I'd only say as to the coop and brooder size, unless you've got electricity out in your coop, you'll still need to supply them with whatever heat source for the 1st month or so, and keep them segregated from the flock for at least 2 or 3 months, which means your booder area is going to be fairly good sized to accommodate your growing young pullets towards the end of your time frames for integrating them into your flock.

yes I have electricity out there which is why I am brooding out there from about 3 days old. The area I have is bigger than the brooder I used in my house last year so should be plenty big enough for them. As I stated it is around 10' x 2' maybe 11x2 under the poop boards so around 20-22 sq ft for them.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Our average temps when I get them should be mid 50- high 60 in the days and 30's to 40's at night, By the time they are 2-3 weeks old it settles more into mid to high 60's and 40's at night. We may have warmer temps in there as well. Last time I brooded indoors and they were off the heat by 3-4 weeks but it was still on 1 (it has 9 heat settings) in case they needed it. Not sure how long they will use it outdoors.

Your time frame should roughly be about the same as when you brooded indoors, assuming those temperatures hold. I aim to wean mine off heat around 3-4 weeks with that same temperature range. Nice thing with MHPs or plates is it becomes pretty obvious when the chicks no longer really want the extra heat.

 

[junior67]

Your time frame should roughly be about the same as when you brooded indoors, assuming those temperatures hold. I aim to wean mine off heat around 3-4 weeks with that same temperature range. Nice thing with MHPs or plates is it becomes pretty obvious when the chicks no longer really want the extra heat.

Yes it does. When they stand on it or in a different corner. Yes last year I got them April 10 I think since they were a day late. This year should be April 15/16. It seems to be a good time to get them running around outside when they are ready. Not too hot and not too cold.

 

[junior67]

going to be setting up my brooder between Wed-Fri this week. hoping it comes out like I have it planned in my head! LOL

I have been trying to hatch eggs so they were ready around when I got my chicks but first group didn't develop and questioning if 2nd group will or not, but they are only on day 3 so not due to hatch for another 18 days. I should be getting my other chicks in about 12 days so if this group hatches they will be 6 days younger than the ones I ordered.

my question is more if this group doesn't how long should I wait to try to hatch again since I am going to need the brooder for the new babies so can't have the excape route door open or the bigger chicks in there anymore. I could maybe try to section off a smaller part for the bigger chicks and 1 for the smaller ones but since the pen only has 1 door that may be hard to do . So guess what I am asking is around what age do the chicks no longer need to have a separate space from the big chickens? I won't get rid of these eggs for about another week to be sure no development. so I will get my other chicks about 4-5 days after I stop incubating these eggs. If I wait till those chicks are about 3 weeks old to set more eggs would that work since then they will be 6 weeks before any eggs hopefully hatch? Or can I set them sooner?

 

[junior67]

@Finnie @rosemarythyme

 

[aart]

If I wait till those chicks are about 3 weeks old to set more eggs would that work since then they will be 6 weeks before any eggs hopefully hatch? Or can I set them sooner?

I did 2 batches of chicks one year, it was a PITB.
Never again...and I have a pretty good setup for integrating early.

 

[junior67]

I did 2 batches of chicks one year, it was a PITB.
Never again...and I have a pretty good setup for integrating early.

This isn't my ideal to do it in 2 batches. But if these eggs that are in the incubator don't do anything then by the time I start another batch after feathers are trimmed, started it today but need an extra set of hands. The new batch would be 3 weeks younger and that seemed harder to try to add them.

 

[Finnie]

Hmmm, as a hatching addict, what I usually end up doing is setting up multiple brooders. I hatch new chicks every week. I stockpile 2 or 3 weeks’ worth of chicks in one brooder, and then the next group in another. Also as a chick-buying addict, whenever I acquire new chicks, I just fit them into whichever brooder has chicks about the same size.

As the chicks get old enough to not need heat, that’s when I move them into my “under the roost” brooder, where they can meet the adult chickens through the wire. After about a week, I just open the door and let the big chickens barge in. Sometimes there is some squabbling, but it doesn’t take long for the littles to learn how to avoid the bigs.

I think if the littles are feathered enough to not need heat, they are big enough to integrate. The thing is, I don’t kick them out of their space and fill it with new chicks. I let them have several weeks where they still sleep inside their brooder, even with the door open. Looking at your timing and the fact that you don’t have multiple brooders, I think spacing your groups out by 6 weeks will allow you to get the first group out and integrated before you have to put the next group in.

Ok, you posted as I am typing, and now it’s 3 weeks between groups. You are going to need a second brooder…

 

[junior67]

Hmmm, as a hatching addict, what I usually end up doing is setting up multiple brooders. I hatch new chicks every week. I stockpile 2 or 3 weeks’ worth of chicks in one brooder, and then the next group in another. Also as a chick-buying addict, whenever I acquire new chicks, I just fit them into whichever brooder has chicks about the same size.

As the chicks get old enough to not need heat, that’s when I move them into my “under the roost” brooder, where they can meet the adult chickens through the wire. After about a week, I just open the door and let the big chickens barge in. Sometimes there is some squabbling, but it doesn’t take long for the littles to learn how to avoid the bigs.

I think if the littles are feathered enough to not need heat, they are big enough to integrate. The thing is, I don’t kick them out of their space and fill it with new chicks. I let them have several weeks where they still sleep inside their brooder, even with the door open. Looking at your timing and the fact that you don’t have multiple brooders, I think spacing your groups out by 6 weeks will allow you to get the first group out and integrated before you have to put the next group in.

Ok, you posted as I am typing, and now it’s 3 weeks between groups. You are going to need a second brooder…

No not 3 weeks. I said that was the closest I could get them if the batch in my incubator doesn't develop. I figured 6 weeks but besides for the first few days they will be brooded in the coop brooder.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Sorry I can't advise, I've never tried doing multiple groups of chicks + integrating.