What’s the best way of adding more chicks?

[strapazzata]

I would like to add 6-10 more chicks/pullets this Spring/Summer. What’s the best way of adding more chicks?

I would appreciate advice/suggestions for doing this outside in my existing run. My thinking is that this will keep dust & smell down to a minimum as well as acclimate/expose the chicks to the rest of the flock. I’ve considered purchasing an omlet enclosure (kind of pricey) or maybe just building it myself.

I could also potentially start the chicks in the storage part of my chicken coop since there’s plenty of space & then transition them to the outside run.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

Can you make your existing run larger and then section a part of it off for the newbies to get exposed to the flock until it's time to integrate, instead of the omlet expense? If the storage part of your coop can turn brooder and a best scenario that part has access to the sectioned of run space for them, then you'd have a set up very much like mine. That's what I did anyhow.... I can post pics if helpful. And of course it's just my opinion that would be the way to go.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I would appreciate advice/suggestions for doing this outside in my existing run.

I could also potentially start the chicks in the storage part of my chicken coop since there’s plenty of space & then transition them to the outside run.

Both could work quite well. I built a permanent brooder in my coop and raise chicks there in winter and summer. I don't know where you are located but when it is above freezing is easier.

What you need in a brooder is food, water, predator protection, and weather protection. You probably need a heat source too though one summer in a ridiculous for us heat wave I turned the heat off after a few days, they did not need it. They do need ventilation.

Hopefully you can figure out food, water, and predator protection wherever you brood them. Weather protection means keep rain out and keep the brooder dry. Block direct wind from hitting them.

To me the biggest issue with brooding outside is the temperature swings. The chicks need a spot that is warm enough in the coldest conditions and a spot cool enough in the hottest conditions. I've seen temperatures go up or down more than 50 degrees Fahrenheit in less than 24 hours. I use a heat lamp in my 3' x 6' brooder and keep one end warm while letting the far end cool off. People use a heating pad cave or a heat plate outside but watch the coolest temperatures with a heat plate. Some of those are only rated down to 50 F.

 

[strapazzata]

Can you make your existing run larger and then section a part of it off for the newbies to get exposed to the flock until it's time to integrate, instead of the omlet expense? If the storage part of your coop can turn brooder and a best scenario that part has access to the sectioned of run space for them, then you'd have a set up very much like mine. That's what I did anyhow.... I can post pics if helpful. And of course it's just my opinion that would be the way to go.

Thank you! Currently, brainstorming so any thoughts or ideas are very much appreciated.

 

[strapazzata]

Both could work quite well. I built a permanent brooder in my coop and raise chicks there in winter and summer. I don't know where you are located but when it is above freezing is easier.

What you need in a brooder is food, water, predator protection, and weather protection. You probably need a heat source too though one summer in a ridiculous for us heat wave I turned the heat off after a few days, they did not need it. They do need ventilation.

Hopefully you can figure out food, water, and predator protection wherever you brood them. Weather protection means keep rain out and keep the brooder dry. Block direct wind from hitting them.

To me the biggest issue with brooding outside is the temperature swings. The chicks need a spot that is warm enough in the coldest conditions and a spot cool enough in the hottest conditions. I've seen temperatures go up or down more than 50 degrees Fahrenheit in less than 24 hours. I use a heat lamp in my 3' x 6' brooder and keep one end warm while letting the far end cool off. People use a heating pad cave or a heat plate outside but watch the coolest temperatures with a heat plate. Some of those are only rated down to 50 F.

Both could work quite well. I built a permanent brooder in my coop and raise chicks there in winter and summer. I don't know where you are located but when it is above freezing is easier.

What you need in a brooder is food, water, predator protection, and weather protection. You probably need a heat source too though one summer in a ridiculous for us heat wave I turned the heat off after a few days, they did not need it. They do need ventilation.

Hopefully you can figure out food, water, and predator protection wherever you brood them. Weather protection means keep rain out and keep the brooder dry. Block direct wind from hitting them.

To me the biggest issue with brooding outside is the temperature swings. The chicks need a spot that is warm enough in the coldest conditions and a spot cool enough in the hottest conditions. I've seen temperatures go up or down more than 50 degrees Fahrenheit in less than 24 hours. I use a heat lamp in my 3' x 6' brooder and keep one end warm while letting the far end cool off. People use a heating pad cave or a heat plate outside but watch the coolest temperatures with a heat plate. Some of those are only rated down to 50 F.

Thank you! Currently, brainstorming so any thoughts or ideas are very much appreciated.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Photos and sizes of what you are working with, where you are located so we know climate, and number of chicks might help with specific suggestions.

 

[aart]

Here's an article on how I do it......with a couple links to others set ups:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/
Oh, and.....Welcome to BYC! @strapazzata
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[strapazzata]

Photos and sizes of what you are working with, where you are located so we know climate, and number of chicks might help with specific suggestions.

Dimensions that I’m working with…

*Coop size = 10 x 10 feet (half is for the chicken roosting & egg laying, other half is for storage & possible brooders/isolation pen)

*Run size = 16 x 30 feet (run is covered by bird netting)

*Coop entrance/exit covered Rugged Ranch Chicken pen 7.5’ x 6.5’

 

[Ridgerunner]

You want to add 6 to 10 chicks or pullets to your current flock. Your existing coop section is probably 5' x 10'. In Chattanooga you should have weather where the chickens can be outside practically every day of the year. Your run is not predator proof with that bird netting but the pen can be with dig protection. I don't know how many chickens you currently have but you probably have enough coop space if you can leave the door to that pen open 24/7 or at least when they are awake. Tight sleeping space, especially when integrating, could be an issue. Integration is harder when you don't have extra room. I would not take any more space away from that 5x10 coop. I'd feel a lot better about adding 6 more chicks instead of 10. Your room in the coop is going to be tight for sleeping even if you can use that pen for when they are awake. Your 16x30 run exceeds the suggestion you often see in here of 10 square feet per chicken but my enclosed run is 12' x 32'. It looks pretty crowded when I have 20 chickens in there and I'm integrating.
For baby chicks you could build a brooder in that storage area with wire separating the coop and brooder so they can see each other. I'm assuming your "pullets' does not mean POL pullets. That brooder in the storage area can work but it is not what I'd do.

I would build a "grow-out" coop in that 16x30 run and put a predator proof run around it. You'll need to run electricity to it for heat. For 10 baby chicks a 4' x 4' coop would be big enough. Plywood sheets and some paneling comes in 4' x 8' dimensions and the cheaper lumber is usually in 8' lengths so a 4x4 is reasonable to build. I'd put roosts in but no nest though a nest won't hurt if you use it to isolate hens later. I made mine 4' x 8' and set it outside of my 12x 32 run with a pop door to a 8x12 run section fenced off in the run but my circumstances are different to yours. I needed more room, you don't need that much room in the little run. I elevated mine a bit and covered the bottom with 1/2" hardware cloth so the chick's poop drops through, keeps it dry and clean. When you are raising baby chicks in it, put a piece of plywood or paneling on the floor to keep heat in, you can tilt it and rake it off to clean. With that wire floor it can serve as a broody buster if you don't have baby chicks. You can use it as a hospital or to isolate a chicken if you need to. Having a separate facility attached to the main one has come in handy in many different ways. If you build a brooder in the storage area you can build it as a broody buster or as a hospital too.

If your "pullets" does mean POL pullets I'd make the small coop 4' x 8'.

 

[strapazzata]

You want to add 6 to 10 chicks or pullets to your current flock. Your existing coop section is probably 5' x 10'. In Chattanooga you should have weather where the chickens can be outside practically every day of the year. Your run is not predator proof with that bird netting but the pen can be with dig protection. I don't know how many chickens you currently have but you probably have enough coop space if you can leave the door to that pen open 24/7 or at least when they are awake. Tight sleeping space, especially when integrating, could be an issue. Integration is harder when you don't have extra room. I would not take any more space away from that 5x10 coop. I'd feel a lot better about adding 6 more chicks instead of 10. Your room in the coop is going to be tight for sleeping even if you can use that pen for when they are awake. Your 16x30 run exceeds the suggestion you often see in here of 10 square feet per chicken but my enclosed run is 12' x 32'. It looks pretty crowded when I have 20 chickens in there and I'm integrating.
For baby chicks you could build a brooder in that storage area with wire separating the coop and brooder so they can see each other. I'm assuming your "pullets' does not mean POL pullets. That brooder in the storage area can work but it is not what I'd do.

I would build a "grow-out" coop in that 16x30 run and put a predator proof run around it. You'll need to run electricity to it for heat. For 10 baby chicks a 4' x 4' coop would be big enough. Plywood sheets and some paneling comes in 4' x 8' dimensions and the cheaper lumber is usually in 8' lengths so a 4x4 is reasonable to build. I'd put roosts in but no nest though a nest won't hurt if you use it to isolate hens later. I made mine 4' x 8' and set it outside of my 12x 32 run with a pop door to a 8x12 run section fenced off in the run but my circumstances are different to yours. I needed more room, you don't need that much room in the little run. I elevated mine a bit and covered the bottom with 1/2" hardware cloth so the chick's poop drops through, keeps it dry and clean. When you are raising baby chicks in it, put a piece of plywood or paneling on the floor to keep heat in, you can tilt it and rake it off to clean. With that wire floor it can serve as a broody buster if you don't have baby chicks. You can use it as a hospital or to isolate a chicken if you need to. Having a separate facility attached to the main one has come in handy in many different ways. If you build a brooder in the storage area you can build it as a broody buster or as a hospital too.

If your "pullets" does mean POL pullets I'd make the small coop 4' x 8'.

Thank you for your reply & suggestions!