Brooding: Inside or Outside?

Cyprus

Master of the 'never give up' attitude
Jan 19, 2018
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Do you prefer to brood your chicks inside a house or outside? Why?

I'm planning on breeding this year, and traditionally we have always brooded inside our home. But we've had more than our fair share of consecutive months with chickens in the house and don't really want to spend 2+ more months with chicks in the house.
So I'm thinking of brooding outside in our barn in a secure brooder.
For anyone with experience, do chicks brooded outside get weaned from heat sooner? Are they typically healthier? What would you recommend with your preference?

TIA,
Cyprus
 
I vote outside. The dander is disgusting and it's hard to give chicks enough space and stuff to safely explore in the confines of a indoor brooder which is usually a cardboard box or some sort of tub.

If they're outside they're exposed to a more natural variance of temperatures as well as a real day time and night time, so the transition to the run is easier IMO.

Since you're using a barn that would provide them quite a bit of predator and weather protection and should make clean up easier as well since it's a barn floor with dirt and straw as opposed to your bathroom.
 
Since you're using a barn that would provide them quite a bit of predator and weather protection and should make clean up easier as well since it's a barn floor with dirt and straw as opposed to your bathroom.
My barn floor is cement ;) even better. And of course they would be in a brooder inside the barn, on the cement. Double protection.
 
Do you prefer to brood your chicks inside a house or outside?
Why?

For anyone with experience, do chicks brooded outside get weaned from heat sooner?
Are they typically healthier?
What would you recommend with your preference?
Outside!!
Less dust and stink, more room for chicks, easier integration with main flock.

Ehhh...maybe...can depend on ambient temps.
Ehhh...probably, more space and fresher air is 'healthier' IMO.
Haven't brooded inside for a few years...
... well, I move them outside by about one week after hatch.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/
 

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