I'll start with a couple of photos of my 3' x 6' x 2' high brooder built in the coop. It is under the roost and the top is my droppings board, but it's elevated so not exactly the same as yours. Mine has a wire floor so the poop falls through, real easy to clean and it stays dry. Good luck with yours, but as you can see from other posts you can make that work. I use heat lamps but others use heating pads. Those work great too.
The biggest problem I have in brooding outside is the temperature swings. I've had it go from below freezing to the 70's Fahrenheit in little more than overnight. Your brooder needs to provide a warm enough spot in the coldest temperatures and a cool enough spot in the warmest temperatures. I do that with room and ventilation. One end stays toasty in the coldest temperatures while the far end may have ice in it on those cold mornings. In the heat waves they stay on the far end. If you haven't read it here is @Blooie 's thread on how she does it with a heating pad.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...d-in-the-brooder-picture-heavy-update.956958/
In winter I wrap mine in plastic to help keep heat in, really wrap it if it is cold. The second shot is later spring where it doesn't get that cold but I block mine underneath to keep the chicks from getting a breeze from underneath. In summer it's more wide open.
I put my chicks in mine straight from the incubator or post office. Some people like to keep them in the house the first few days. I think the first two or three days are most critical. They spend a lot of that time in the heated area. In my 3' x 6' brooder I find them very good at going to where they are comfortable. I've never had to confine them to a spot near the heat. In winter I typically keep the heat on until they are 5 weeks old, in summer the heat goes off earlier or I switch to a lower wattage bulb.
In any case I open the brooder door when they are 5 weeks old and walk away. Of course I pay attention but it really is that easy. I have an 8' x 12' main coop, a couple of shelters I can use to sleep some if it gets crowded, and over 3,000 square feet available outside for them. The room in the coop and outside really helps, I don't know how you are set up for room when integrating. I think having enough room is critical in it being this easy. I've never used that safe haven method where the chicks can get away from the adults but if room is tight those can be really helpful. There are ways to do things.
In warmer weather, I've had a couple of broody hens wean their chicks at 3 weeks. Leave them totally on their own to make their own way with the flock. She's spent three weeks teaching the other adults to leave her chicks alone. With the room I have they manage. My five weeks may be a bit overkill but it's not that much extra hassle so I'm OK being extra safe.
I don't have a run associated with this brooder. If I'd thought of it I could have set it up where I could. I'd consider that a good thing as it gives you more flexibility in managing them.
With mine elevated with a wire floor it's a good broody buster. I've used it to isolate chickens that need isolating. I don't isolate my broody hens whether incubating or raising chicks but yours could be used for that. If I were to do something like that I'd put cardboard or plywood on the wire to get a solid floor. In winter I have a piece of plywood I put under the heat to retain heat. And the water goes in the warmed area so it doesn't freeze.
The size is a good question. Mine is too big to reach them so I use a net to catch them. How many chicks and how old will they be before you let them out? My 3x6 can hold about 30 chicks until they are 5 weeks old, then it gets pretty crowded. Getting on your knees to get in there could be a pain. I'd suggest making it bigger than you think you need and maybe think of a way to wall off one end that you can easily take down if you think you need it.
Good luck with it, let us know how it goes.
The biggest problem I have in brooding outside is the temperature swings. I've had it go from below freezing to the 70's Fahrenheit in little more than overnight. Your brooder needs to provide a warm enough spot in the coldest temperatures and a cool enough spot in the warmest temperatures. I do that with room and ventilation. One end stays toasty in the coldest temperatures while the far end may have ice in it on those cold mornings. In the heat waves they stay on the far end. If you haven't read it here is @Blooie 's thread on how she does it with a heating pad.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...d-in-the-brooder-picture-heavy-update.956958/
In winter I wrap mine in plastic to help keep heat in, really wrap it if it is cold. The second shot is later spring where it doesn't get that cold but I block mine underneath to keep the chicks from getting a breeze from underneath. In summer it's more wide open.
I put my chicks in mine straight from the incubator or post office. Some people like to keep them in the house the first few days. I think the first two or three days are most critical. They spend a lot of that time in the heated area. In my 3' x 6' brooder I find them very good at going to where they are comfortable. I've never had to confine them to a spot near the heat. In winter I typically keep the heat on until they are 5 weeks old, in summer the heat goes off earlier or I switch to a lower wattage bulb.
In any case I open the brooder door when they are 5 weeks old and walk away. Of course I pay attention but it really is that easy. I have an 8' x 12' main coop, a couple of shelters I can use to sleep some if it gets crowded, and over 3,000 square feet available outside for them. The room in the coop and outside really helps, I don't know how you are set up for room when integrating. I think having enough room is critical in it being this easy. I've never used that safe haven method where the chicks can get away from the adults but if room is tight those can be really helpful. There are ways to do things.
In warmer weather, I've had a couple of broody hens wean their chicks at 3 weeks. Leave them totally on their own to make their own way with the flock. She's spent three weeks teaching the other adults to leave her chicks alone. With the room I have they manage. My five weeks may be a bit overkill but it's not that much extra hassle so I'm OK being extra safe.
I don't have a run associated with this brooder. If I'd thought of it I could have set it up where I could. I'd consider that a good thing as it gives you more flexibility in managing them.
With mine elevated with a wire floor it's a good broody buster. I've used it to isolate chickens that need isolating. I don't isolate my broody hens whether incubating or raising chicks but yours could be used for that. If I were to do something like that I'd put cardboard or plywood on the wire to get a solid floor. In winter I have a piece of plywood I put under the heat to retain heat. And the water goes in the warmed area so it doesn't freeze.
The size is a good question. Mine is too big to reach them so I use a net to catch them. How many chicks and how old will they be before you let them out? My 3x6 can hold about 30 chicks until they are 5 weeks old, then it gets pretty crowded. Getting on your knees to get in there could be a pain. I'd suggest making it bigger than you think you need and maybe think of a way to wall off one end that you can easily take down if you think you need it.
Good luck with it, let us know how it goes.
I will re-home most of those but hoping to get a splash from them to keep.
