questions on making a brooder inside the coop

[junior67]

Ok. So I have 8 chickens right now (7 pullets and 1 cockerel). I am getting more chicks in April. Instead of brooding them inside and trying to integrate them I would like to "build" a brooder inside my coop. I have a poop board with roost in there. It is an L shape so about 8' long on one wall and I think 3' on the other wall. it is 2' wide and 2' high (with no shavings I think is how I did it, maybe 30" with no shavings?). Can I push up some HWC blocking the space under this with a door so I can get to them, maybe make it a bit smaller to start so they don't have the whole space to run in) and use that space for a brooder so the bigger chickens can get used to them the whole time? I used a dog crate last year, but my puppy is using it this year so I can't use that even in there....... I can get some pictures if needed. I would also like to try to hatch out some chicks hopefully if I have a broody (or possibly get an incubator but think ti would be easier to integrate if I had a broody so guess we will see). And would like to use part of under the roost for her nest to raise the babies at first as well. Right now the posts holding the poop boards up go at an angle from the edge of the poop board to the wall so too hard for anything good size to walk under it so thinking I will move those going straight down so that space under is completely open.

Does anyone have something like this set up? a brooder under poop boards? I know I still have time but it is still quite cold here right now but want to plan and have it all figured out so I can build when I do my full coop clean out as soon as it warms up.

 

[Finnie]

Yes, what you are suggesting will work great. A lot of people, including myself do it that way.

Edit: I went back and found some photos I posted back when I built mine. I have brooded chicks in there, and also let broody hens sit and raise chicks.

 

[junior67]

Yes, what you are suggesting will work great. A lot of people, including myself do it that way.

. Thank you! what size should I make it for just the chicks (no broody) so that I can get to them but they still have room? Trying to figure out how to make a "door" so that I can get to them to visit and also if there is an issue.

oh also what age do you start to let them out with the big chickens? I know I read to have a space they can run into that the big ones can't get into. My coop is 2' off the ground and attached to the run with part of the run under the coop. I think I will figure a way to build a mini run in the big run for the babies to go out in once they are off the heat as well but I will have to put them in there since there is no way to "attach" that to the door/ramp that they can get to and the big ones can't........ so much to try to figure out. This is my first time integrating chicks since I just got my others last year......

 

[rosemarythyme]

. Thank you! what size should I make it for just the chicks (no broody) so that I can get to them but they still have room? Trying to figure out how to make a "door" so that I can get to them to visit and also if there is an issue.

oh also what age do you start to let them out with the big chickens?

Openings the size of a brick works well for chicks to get in and out: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/ideas-for-safe-zone-box-for-chicks.1508599/#post-25322340

I start letting the chicks meet the adults around 10-14 days. No hard number, I wait until the adults have mostly lost interest in the chicks and chick area, then pick a day when weather's agreeable and I have time to supervise.

 

[junior67]

Openings the size of a brick works well for chicks to get in and out: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/ideas-for-safe-zone-box-for-chicks.1508599/#post-25322340

I start letting the chicks meet the adults around 10-14 days. No hard number, I wait until the adults have mostly lost interest in the chicks and chick area, then pick a day when weather's agreeable and I have time to supervise.

Thank you.

ok so once they lose interest for the most part and it is a nice day and I am home to watch. that is easy enough.

 

[RubelliteRose]

We used a dog crate inside the coop for our chicks, so that doesn't help, but here is the mini run inside our big run. When 2 people were available, one of us went inside the coop and passed the chicks through the pop door. When it was only me, I hand carried each chick out of the coop and into the mini run.

 

[junior67]

We used a dog crate inside the coop for our chicks, so that doesn't help, but here is the mini run inside our big run. When 2 people were available, one of us went inside the coop and passed the chicks through the pop door. When it was only me, I hand carried each chick out of the coop and into the mini run.View attachment 2991396

Thank you that is helpful! What age do you keep them in their own run until? Last year I was working from home but this year I am out working so I work 4-5 days a week normally around 8-1 so I can bring them out in the mornings but then not home to supervise or I can bring them out if warm enough in the afternoons. just wondering around what age I don't really have to worry about not being there to supervise. Guessing once the big ones don't pay attention to them when out and about in the bigger part of the run. haahaa.

I built my human door so it opens into the run as well so bringing them out will be pretty easy even if I have to do it by myself.

 

[RubelliteRose]

We had ours in the house for the first 4 weeks before we moved the crate into the coop. I think we had everyone in separate areas for 2 or 3 weeks. Since ours were a little older, we only kept them in the crate at night (or if it was raining hard) and moved them into their little run first thing in the morning. We did double up the chicken wire at the bottom half of their run so they could not fit through the wire and none of the big girls could fit their head through to peck at them. We only supervised the first weekend to make sure everyone stayed where they belonged. Once we fully integrated the chicks, we also supervised the first day or two to make sure everyone behaved. It was nerve-wracking, a lot like when I sent my kids off on their very first day of school

 

[junior67]

We had ours in the house for the first 4 weeks before we moved the crate into the coop. I think we had everyone in separate areas for 2 or 3 weeks. Since ours were a little older, we only kept them in the crate at night (or if it was raining hard) and moved them into their little run first thing in the morning. We did double up the chicken wire at the bottom half of their run so they could not fit through the wire and none of the big girls could fit their head through to peck at them. We only supervised the first weekend to make sure everyone stayed where they belonged. Once we fully integrated the chicks, we also supervised the first day or two to make sure everyone behaved. It was nerve-wracking, a lot like when I sent my kids off on their very first day of school

I can't imagine how nerve-wracking this is going to be. I was a mess when I put the "babies" out into the coop last year for the first night!!! Now I am sticking babies out into the "wild" with bigger ones. At least I have a camera in there now so I can watch them. haahaa!l

Should I start from day 1 in the coop or have them in the house a few days to be sure they are ok? I would have to figure something out for the house since as I said I did a dog crate last year but my puppy is now in it this year. It will be April so who know what temps will be could be 20's could be 60's. LOL I use a MHP a heat source.

 

[RubelliteRose]

With a heat source, you should be able to keep them in the coop from day 1 We had ours in the house because we don't have electricity in the coop. It was later in the summer, so by 4 weeks it was still warm enough for them even at night.