Will this work for a brooder?

[Twoleggedmotherhen]

Want to get 4-5 chicks. Will this work as a brooder? Aleady have this coop, store things in it, but that can be cleaned out. The clean out door has been removed, made it a window. Top I hinged and have saftey hooks so it can't be opened, by anything but humans. Have a string of blue & green LED lights on the top for daytime lighting, so they won't be in the dark with light only coming in the little window.
Plan is to do a MHP in what is the egg box, put stick on tiles on floor, cover with shavings and potty pads on top of shavings. Put in feeder and heated waterer. Drop down ramp would stay closed until they are feathered out, then open to allow them out into the see no touch inside the run. Will that work as a brooder?
Don't have room inside to brood, was thinking how can I do this and came up with this idea. Below is a picture of the coop (store image), before I made the changes. I used it for 2 red sexlinks (4 weeks old, no heat).

Note: Forgot to ask this question. When we do get chicks, can I use Rooster Booster(have on hand) for a few days in chick water (couple drops when I get them home too) or would it be best to use Nutri drench?

 

[Brahmachicken240]

Want to get 4-5 chicks. Will this work as a brooder? Aleady have this coop, store things in it, but that can be cleaned out. The clean out door has been removed, made it a window. Top I hinged and have saftey hooks so it can't be opened, by anything but humans. Have a string of blue & green LED lights on the top for daytime lighting, so they won't be in the dark with light only coming in the little window.
Plan is to do a MHP in what is the egg box, put stick on tiles on floor, cover with shavings and potty pads on top of shavings. Put in feeder and heated waterer. Drop down ramp would stay closed until they are feathered out, then open to allow them out into the see no touch inside the run. Will that work as a brooder?
Don't have room inside to brood, was thinking how can I do this and came up with this idea. Below is a picture of the coop (store image), before I made the changes. I used it for 2 red sexlinks (4 weeks old, no heat). View attachment 1680396

Note: Forgot to ask this question. When we do get chicks, can I use Rooster Booster(have on hand) for a few days in chick water (couple drops when I get them home too) or would it be best to use Nutri drench?

Day old chicks will need a heat source till they’re fully feathered, Have never used either of those products on young chicks so I’m unsure.

 

[Twoleggedmotherhen]

Day old chicks will need a heat source till they’re fully feathered, Have never used either of those products on young chicks so I’m unsure.

The MHP in what was the nesting box is the heat source. They go under it just like they would with a mama. The 4 week olds last year only had a bit of fuzz on head, so they were fine without heat, plus it was quite warm out, nothing like right now (upper 20's F, lower 30's F at night. Daytime mid to upper 30's F to mid -lower 40's F). Definitely need heat source.

 

[rosemarythyme]

It's a bit lacking in ventilation (you said one door is now mesh?) but otherwise it should work fine as a brooder. Looks maybe 2x3ish?

Not sure if there's a lip on the nest box but I would remove it, or add some bricks or wood as a step up so the chicks can easily access the heating pad in the nest box area.

 

[wyoDreamer]

That is similar to what I use for a brooder - mine came with the place and I believe was used as a brooder for Guinea fowl. Only difference is mine is one of the tall ones with a built in machine fabric run. I have it in a stall in my barn so it is predator proof.

I put MHP in the nest area and tape a piece of plastic over the door/ramp area until they are bigger - like about 4 weeks I think. If they are too young when the plastic falls off, they can't find their way up the ramp and into the coop part again. But, I also changed the roof with an old window so the sunlight could get into the brooder. That way I don't use lights - they had the natural sunrise to sunset cycle. It has worked very well for 2 batches of chicks so far.

I am not sure that the christmas lights will be enough light. Maybe you could mount an LED under-cabinet light on the hinged top to give more light.

 

[Twoleggedmotherhen]

It's a bit lacking in ventilation (you said one door is now mesh?) but otherwise it should work fine as a brooder. Looks maybe 2x3ish?

Not sure if there's a lip on the nest box but I would remove it, or add some bricks or wood as a step up so the chicks can easily access the heating pad in the nest box area.

Has a small lip maybe 2-2.5 inches. It is about 4 ft long x 2 foot wide. Nesting box lid hangs over box and the side of big top hangs over the nesting box, nesting box stays dry.
Not only did I change that door to a window, we also put (4) 2 inch vents.

Note: added about vents we added.

 

[FluffTheDuck]

Day old chicks will need a heat source till they’re fully feathered, Have never used either of those products on young chicks so I’m unsure.

I agree with BrahmaChicken.

 

[Twoleggedmotherhen]

That is similar to what I use for a brooder - mine came with the place and I believe was used as a brooder for Guinea fowl. Only difference is mine is one of the tall ones with a built in machine fabric run. I have it in a stall in my barn so it is predator proof.

I put MHP in the nest area and tape a piece of plastic over the door/ramp area until they are bigger - like about 4 weeks I think. If they are too young when the plastic falls off, they can't find their way up the ramp and into the coop part again. But, I also changed the roof with an old window so the sunlight could get into the brooder. That way I don't use lights - they had the natural sunrise to sunset cycle. It has worked very well for 2 batches of chicks so far.

I am not sure that the christmas lights will be enough light. Maybe you could mount an LED under-cabinet light on the hinged top to give more light.

Will get clear light, was just thinking I had a new string, but clear would be better. Thank You

 

[rosemarythyme]

Has a small lip maybe 2-2.5 inches. It is about 4 ft long x 2 foot wide. Nesting box lid hangs over box and the side of big top hangs over the nesting box, nesting box stays dry.

If it's not removable maybe build a very low ramp (even cardboard is probably ok) just to make sure they can get up and down for the first week or two. Once they're a bit bigger it won't be an issue.

Otherwise the amount of space sounds good and it looks like a fairly secure and dry set up.

 

[FluffTheDuck]

If it's not removable maybe build a very low ramp (even cardboard is probably ok) just to make sure they can get up and down for the first week or two. Once they're a bit bigger it won't be an issue.

Otherwise the amount of space sounds good and it looks like a fairly secure and dry set up.