Second guessing my brooding pen / integration plans

[aart]

Quote: They're sleeping off their long trip in the box ...any pics of your coop brooder?
I just sent off 20 chicks hatched for a friend....it got real quiet all of a sudden.

 

[lazy gardener]

My chicks are in my garage which is under my house. Still too close to my home! It's been cold and raw, rainy all week. Out they go this weekend!!!! So looking forward to that!

 

[WesleyBeal]

They're sleeping off their long trip in the box ...any pics of  your coop brooder?
I just sent off 20 chicks hatched for a friend....it got real quiet all of a sudden.

I'll get some pics soon. Have videos I shared on Facebook, but they don't show the brooding pen very well.

 

[WesleyBeal]

They're sleeping off their long trip in the box ...any pics of your coop brooder?
I just sent off 20 chicks hatched for a friend....it got real quiet all of a sudden.

OK, here's some pics. Not real clear in the photos, there's a front door with a removable frame of hardware cloth. When removed, there are wooden dowel bars to allow the chicks to come and go while excluding the grown-ups.

 

[WesleyBeal]

Also, underneath the pine shavings is hardware cloth, and under that is old bedding, same as in the coop. Once the pine shavings gets fouled, I'll do a mix of the old bedding from the coop with more pine shavings, gradually using less of the fresh pine over time.

 

[aart]

THAT is awesome!!

 

[WesleyBeal]

And here's one more pic, that doesn't show a thing about the brooder setup, just because it's one of those days that makes you realize winter is really over.

Never mind. Site not cooperating with my phone tonight.

 

[BlueShadow]

Also, underneath the pine shavings is hardware cloth, and under that is old bedding, same as in the coop. Once the pine shavings gets fouled, I'll do a mix of the old bedding from the coop with more pine shavings, gradually using less of the fresh pine over time.

I don't think I understood what you wrote here. Would you mind explaining to me why you are adding old bedding into the brooder?

 

[WesleyBeal]

I don't think I understood what you wrote here.  Would you mind explaining to me why you are adding old bedding into the brooder?

Studies that were done on using old bedding showed lower incidence of mortality among chicks. They develop stronger immune systems.

Still finishing my coffee, but I think they also acquired some vitamins/minerals they didn't otherwise get. That though was prior to the feeds we use nowadays.

 

[aart]

Quote: Exposing chicks to the ground(bedding or piece of sod) where their future flock mates reside can help the begin to build immunities.