With heat, can I keep brooder box in empy and clean coop?

[Dancing Bee]

My first chicks will be here next week, and I'm thinking about locating the brooder box in the coop. There are no other poultry in it and it's freshly cleaned and sanitized. I would have a Chick Heating Plate (radient plate for them to rest under) and a heat lamp, and a portion of the coop blocked off for them.

We're in Northern Nevada and nights are well below freezing.

Would this work?

Thanks ahead for any advice!

 

[Hopperkiller]

Set it up and test it. Get several thermometers and check it at night. Make sure there is no draft. You should be able to tell but have a plan b. A week will go by fast when you have things to do.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

The heat plate should be enough.

They will stay warm and wean themselves off heat in less time if you skip the heat lamp, and the fire risk associated with it.

Good luck

Gary

 

[Dancing Bee]

Ok, good ideas. And you're right, a week will slip by fast! Thanks!

 

[chuckachucka]

I agree with Hopperkiller. Test the temps with thermometers at the hottest and coldest areas, as with any brooder before adding chicks, But actually this sounds like a nice set up. It will make it much easier to transition them fully off heat when they are ready. As long as your coop is good (draught free, good ventilation, and secure from predator access) there is no reason why this shouldn't work well.

 

[Dancing Bee]

The heat plate should be enough.

They will stay warm and wean themselves off heat in less time if you skip the heat lamp, and the fire risk associated with it.

Good luck

Gary

Thanks, Gary! Good to know the heat plate may be enough!

 

[Dancing Bee]

I agree with Hopperkiller. Test the temps with thermometers at the hottest and coldest areas, as with any brooder before adding chicks, But actually this sounds like a nice set up. It will make it much easier to transition them fully off heat when they are ready. As long as your coop is good (draught free, good ventilation, and secure from predator access) there is no reason why this shouldn't work well.

Thanks, I'll do all of that.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

Thanks, Gary! Good to know the heat plate may be enough!

I used heat plate last spring with lows in the 20's and they feathered out quickly and weened themselves off heat in 4 weeks

Gary

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Many of us brood in the coop....in fact i just set up my brooder section fir this years batch of chicks who will arrive tomorrow.
I use the mama heat pad for warmth and raise chicks side by side with their future (adult) flockmates. This is my panel being used to isolate a bird being managed on contrrolled feeding recently, but is the same thing I use for brooding....when I don't need the separate space the panel is stored elsewhere and that space is just part of the coop space.

 

[aart]

Heat plate should be enough if coop is draft free, brooder in coop might help with that...just make sure they know how to go under plate to get warm and keep feed and water close to plate for first few days.