Work as a grow out?

[Crazy_Beautiful]

I'm planning for some May chicks. I don't want them in my house for long. I do 4 weeks then I like them.out.

Would this work as a draft free rain free place inside a Covered predator proof run? They sleep in here until they are of size to move with my flock.

 

[MountainWoman73]

If you stuff it with straw and it's not very cold out that could work. You might have to put them in after dark if they don't go in on their own.

 

[Pipica]

Hi, couple of questions. How big is the crate? How many chicks? Size of the run? Heat source? Chicken breed(size) important …

 

[Luv Ducks]

How many do you plan on putting in there? Overcrowding can create problems.

 

[Crazy_Beautiful]

The run is 10 ft by 6 ft. We are looking for a jumbo sized dog house. Or i can look for one of those dog igloos if they are warmer. I have only 7 chicks coming in May all standard size.

I'll brood them inside for 4 weeks. They should be off heat by then as it'll be warm outside.

I want to use my run ad I can shut it off to my flock and they can interact thru the fence to get to know each other. And more room for the chicks then in my house.

 

[Luv Ducks]

I bought a pet gazebo that is 5' tall and quite a good size around. I got it two years ago and it is still in great shape. My Momma Mallard hatched her ducklings out in it and I kept them in it until they were all feathered out. It got down in the 30's but she was still able to keep all of the 11 ducklings warm. They all made it. I had lined the outside of it with plastic tarps to keep the wind out and it came with a roof. The only thing I wish I would have done was gotten a taller one as I have to really stoop over in it to get in and out to collect the eggs where they like to hide them. It was well worth the money. Made for a dog but worked great for my Ducks.

 

[Crazy_Beautiful]

Last year I used one of those wayfair chicken coops I bought off someone cheap. I thought it would work great. The chicks couldn't work the ramp. So then I used a dog crate, which also backfired on me. So I'm really just looking to do something that is easy to add and remove from my run. My ducks sleep in a dog igloo so that's where I got the idea. Just worried about the warmth.

 

[5 Points Wingfeather]

I made a miniature coop and run to put inside my regular run.

For the grow out coop I used a really big plastic bin and cut a hole in it for the door and put wood shavings inside. It has a plastic lid that fastens on top so rain doesn’t get in. When they come out of incubator they go in this for a week or two.

Then for the run I just made a 3-D rectangle box (not sure how to describe it) out of scrap wood and chicken wire with an open bottom. I attach this to the coop. This allows for “look but don’t touch” and allows them some room to run around.

Then after several days like this I put the open bottomed mini run up on blocks so the little ones can get in and out but big ones can’t get in.


This has worked really well for me in the past and I’ll be trying it again soon. Hope it wasn’t too confusing.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Covered predator proof run?

The theory is good. My main question how many chicks and how big is that. In south central Ontario 4 week olds should be old enough for your weather then.

Personally I brood in the coop so zero time in the house. If you have electricity out there we might be able to help you set that up, either in the coop or in a predator proof covered run.