Where should I put my brooder?

[Ridgerunner]

Some great advice above. I'll emphasize that you need an area warm enough in the coolest conditions and cool enough in the warmest conditions. To me the temperature swings are the biggest issue in brooding outside of a climate controlled area. Make the brooder big enough so the chicks can go where they are comfortable. That location will change.

Something else you need is a barrier to keep direct breezes from hitting them. Details vary depending in the time of the year and conditions I expect but I use plastic down low to keep breezes from hitting where they are even in good warm weather. In cold weather the entire brooder may be wrapped but I do have some openings up high for ventilation.

 

[FluffAndFeather]

Some great advice above. I'll emphasize that you need an area warm enough in the coolest conditions and cool enough in the warmest conditions. To me the temperature swings are the biggest issue in brooding outside of a climate controlled area. Make the brooder big enough so the chicks can go where they are comfortable. That location will change.

Something else you need is a barrier to keep direct breezes from hitting them. Details vary depending in the time of the year and conditions I expect but I use plastic down low to keep breezes from hitting where they are even in good warm weather. In cold weather the entire brooder may be wrapped but I do have some openings up high for ventilation.

Ok thank you!!

 

[FluffAndFeather]

The chicks will be fully feathered at about 5 weeks old, so you'll need a coop for them at that point. That'll be the middle of May or so and they won't need added heat any more.

Ok! Good to know

 

[Ponypoor]

Ok! Good to know

Do you have your chicks yet?

Three is a small amount, so they won’t be able to creat a bile snuggle pile to warm up in.

I use a brooder plate for my chicks, it’s less electricity costs, and I can creat a warm ‘cave’ for the chicks to snuggle under, the plate can be raised up as they grow, and at one point they will start roosting on it at night, it will help
to keep them warm even then.

In addition to this I have Sweeter Heaters - I use those for my older birds usually but I had my silly silkie pullet go broody last Fall and I couldn’t break her. After 6 weeks she was losing weight so I have in at Christmas and shoved two baby chicks under her. I used a sweeter heater in a pen I made for them so that the chicks could stay warm. My chooks are in my barn, and winters here are very cold.

Lastly I have 900 watt Carbon Fibre IR heat lamps that I use for the rest of the flock to warm up under. They are hung by a chain from the ceiling at about 4’ off the ground and 5’ away from the walls. It’s awesome as it keeps the water from freezing and is a nice warm up area for the chooks (and me hahaha).

It looks like you are in a milder climate so your wee ones should be fine. When you get them please post photos!

 

[FluffAndFeather]

Do you have your chicks yet?

Three is a small amount, so they won’t be able to creat a bile snuggle pile to warm up in.

I use a brooder plate for my chicks, it’s less electricity costs, and I can creat a warm ‘cave’ for the chicks to snuggle under, the plate can be raised up as they grow, and at one point they will start roosting on it at night, it will help
to keep them warm even then.

In addition to this I have Sweeter Heaters - I use those for my older birds usually but I had my silly silkie pullet go broody last Fall and I couldn’t break her. After 6 weeks she was losing weight so I have in at Christmas and shoved two baby chicks under her. I used a sweeter heater in a pen I made for them so that the chicks could stay warm. My chooks are in my barn, and winters here are very cold.

Lastly I have 900 watt Carbon Fibre IR heat lamps that I use for the rest of the flock to warm up under. They are hung by a chain from the ceiling at about 4’ off the ground and 5’ away from the walls. It’s awesome as it keeps the water from freezing and is a nice warm up area for the chooks (and me hahaha).

It looks like you are in a milder climate so your wee ones should be fine. When you get them please post photos!

I get them March 16! Thanks for your set up run down! I will definitely post some pics!

 

[Ponypoor]

I get them March 16! Thanks for your set up run down! I will definitely post some pics!

I look forward to seeing them

 

[RSG Minnow]

Hey friends! I am going to most likey use a heat lamp for my first time chick brooder. I’ve been keeping track of temps for where I should put the actual brooder box (garage vs closet vs shed) if you could let me know where you would put it that would be amazing




Time: 10:15am

Outside temp: 40° F in shade, 43° F in sun

Garage temp: 62° F

Shed temp: 36° F

Closet temp: 65° F



Time: 11:15am

Outside temp: 46°F in shade, 50°F in sun

Garage temp: 63°F

Shed temp: 45°F

Closet temp: 63°F



Time: 12:30pm

Outside temp: 53°F in shade, 57°F in sun

Garage temp: 60°F

Shed temp: 48°F

Closet temp: 63°F



Time: 6:00pm

Outside temp: 47°F (sun has set/is setting)

Garage temp: 67°F

Shed temp: 50°F

Closet temp: 67°F



Notable things:

-Garage does open a lot which may cause some drafts and drops in temperature, but I don’t know if this is a large problem if it’s a tad warmer

-Closet is closed all the time so I can’t tell if the airflow is good or not and it’s quite small

-Shed is harder to check on the chicks cuz it’s outside

-Predicted temperatures in March 2025 (when I get the chicks) are around 45-51 degrees high with lows of 20 degrees. Average temperatures March highs of 53°F and lows of 23°F.

-We are getting the chicks March 13, 2025

-I am most likely using a heat lamp (that may be a problem in some of these options?)

I asked myself the same questions! My garage has crazy temperature fluctuations, coop doesn't have electricity yet, so the the chicks ended up in the dining room, (we've been eating in the living room...)not ideal however, this worked out as one of the chicks had a pasting issue that needed to be addressed twice a day for five days. She's a fine pooper now!

 

[mcdze]

depends on your design .. mine is portable and partly enclosed at the top so its pretty resistant to draft and somewhat to temp .. this is why i prefer an incandescent as a heat source - they can get into the heat as much as they want .. that said, use your judgment .. theyre really sensitive the first 3 or so days so keep it inside .. theyre messy smelly and dirty, so after that porch or garage, weather permitting .. if theres no draft a good designed brooder can keep temps ok into the 40's id say, but if its too cold, bring them inside at night ..if theyre over a week, i try to adjust the heat so i can cover them with a sheet when i have to bring them inside so it doesnt trash my house with dust .. like that ... but you can tell if theyre too cold and huddled etc, dont let that happen under 3 weeks, they can kick off ..

 

[FluffAndFeather]

I asked myself the same questions! My garage has crazy temperature fluctuations, coop doesn't have electricity yet, so the the chicks ended up in the dining room, (we've been eating in the living room...)not ideal however, this worked out as one of the chicks had a pasting issue that needed to be addressed twice a day for five days. She's a fine pooper now!

Good to know!

 

[FluffAndFeather]

depends on your design .. mine is portable and partly enclosed at the top so its pretty resistant to draft and somewhat to temp .. this is why i prefer an incandescent as a heat source - they can get into the heat as much as they want .. that said, use your judgment .. theyre really sensitive the first 3 or so days so keep it inside .. theyre messy smelly and dirty, so after that porch or garage, weather permitting .. if theres no draft a good designed brooder can keep temps ok into the 40's id say, but if its too cold, bring them inside at night ..if theyre over a week, i try to adjust the heat so i can cover them with a sheet when i have to bring them inside so it doesnt trash my house with dust .. like that ... but you can tell if theyre too cold and huddled etc, dont let that happen under 3 weeks, they can kick off ..

Ok thank you!