questions on making a brooder inside the coop

[junior67]

Just wanted to update since it has been about 10 days. The babies are probably about 6 weeks old (I got them about 5 weeks 5 days ago). They have been out in the run and coop with the big ones for a couple weeks and are doing great. I have a mama that sleeps in a nest box with her 2 babies that are 2 weeks old and sometimes at night a bigger chick or two will sneak in with her. LOL Then I had 2 that went broody this weekend so they are in the other 2 nest boxes. One will NOT let the bigger babies get NEAR her. then the one that is nastier to me will peck them if they are in front of her but they all pile in her nest box behind and under her to sleep. a couple of them are now sleeping on the edge of the poop board but haven't gone up to the roost to sleep yet. Hoping the others follow suit soon since on Sunday I am giving the broodys some eggs to hatch so don't want the babies sleeping in there with them but can't really block off the nest boxes.. So guess we see how this goes.

Thinking I may need to take down the "brooder" and put in some boxes under the roost for extra nest boxes for now since I have 3-4 that are laying and only 1 free box during the day. Thankfully mama and babies head out early and don't go back until night so that box is free during the day.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

maybe some pics...just so we can't get a better idea of what you're saying, lol...JK I just want to see all the little fluff butts

 

[aart]

Thinking I may need to take down the "brooder" and put in some boxes under the roost for extra nest boxes

What you could do is put a nest and the broody in the brooder area.
I like to separate my sitting broodies from the flock, makes it simpler to monitor them.

 

[junior67]

What you could do is put a nest and the broody in the brooder area.
I like to separate my sitting broodies from the flock, makes it simpler to monitor them.

I had thought of that but then 1 is in and 1 is out since the way it is made there aren't 2 doors or a way to separate them. I tried to move each of them once, not locking them up. And they instantly ran back to their respective nest box. I let my last broody stay in the box and hatch there. Plus I have my coop cam facing the nest boxes so very easy to watch them and look back to see what is going on.

 

[junior67]

maybe some pics...just so we can't get a better idea of what you're saying, lol...JK I just want to see all the little fluff butts

Here is some of the crew. Lol. The first 2 are my broody raised babies. Then mama and her babies. Then some of the 6 week olds.

 

[aart]

I tried to move each of them once, not locking them up. And they instantly ran back to their respective nest box.

Yeah, ya gotta 'force' them.

When I have a broody and want her to hatch I wait until she's been in the nest most the day and all night for 2-3 days...along with those other signs I posted.

Then I put her in the broody enclosure with fake eggs in the floor nest, she won't like being moved, but if she is truly good and broody she will settle onto the new nest within a half a day.
Then I give her fresh fertile eggs and mark the calendar.

I like them separated by wire from the flock, it's just easier all around.
No having to mark eggs and remove any additions daily, no taking up a laying nest, no going back to the wrong nest after the daily constitutional.

I remove barrier about one week after hatch. The chicks are usually safe it's the broody who has to 'fight' her way back into the pecking order...which can be quick or take a few days.

Lots of space helps for re-integration.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Here is some of the crew. Lol. The first 2 are my broody raised babies. Then mama and her babies. Then some of the 6 week olds.

Thank you for the "chick fix"

 

[junior67]

Yeah, ya gotta 'force' them.

When I have a broody and want her to hatch I wait until she's been in the nest most the day and all night for 2-3 days...along with those other signs I posted.

Then I put her in the broody enclosure with fake eggs in the floor nest, she won't like being moved, but if she is truly good and broody she will settle onto the new nest within a half a day.
Then I give her fresh fertile eggs and mark the calendar.

I like them separated by wire from the flock, it's just easier all around.
No having to mark eggs and remove any additions daily, no taking up a laying nest, no going back to the wrong nest after the daily constitutional.

I remove barrier about one week after hatch. The chicks are usually safe it's the broody who has to 'fight' her way back into the pecking order...which can be quick or take a few days.

Lots of space helps for re-integration.

The first one to go broody this time went on Sat night. I noticed she stayed in there that night. She hasn't left since besides 30 min a day. One night I went and put her on the roost and even in the dark she jumped off and went back to the nest.

The 2 nd one went on Mon afternoon and hasn't left since.

I have eggs that should be here Sat to give them Sunday. I will just let them be.

 

[junior67]

I know this thread is old, but figured easier to get info from experienced people on here...

We are redoing the brooder under the coop. We are doing a large door the opens down(so later on I can leave it down to be usable space). There will be 2 chick doors on either side of the big door. They will be able to slide out and back in as needed. Now the question... I made the chick doors 5" wide. Is that too big?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Now the question... I made the chick doors 5" wide. Is that too big?

Possibly, how big are your hens? My "wide load" head hen managed to squeeze herself through a roughly 4" chick gap in my brooder. I found her inside stuffing herself with chick feed.