I love baby chicks! Their little fluffy butts and cute peeps are so entertaining. Normally, I prefer to let a broody hen take care of them, though. Whether she hatches them herself or adopts the new ones we slip under her, she will make sure that the rest of the flock accepts them. This year we don't have a broody so I'm introducing the chicks myself. It's important to let the older birds get used to them before they're released into the coop.
I could have started them in the house and moved them out to the coop when they were old enough to survive without added heat. But, y'all, THE SMELL. Plus the cleaning of the brooder is a constant battle. I find it much easier to set up a playpen in the coop and take care of them there. By the time they are ready to run free, it will also be time to deep clean the coop. I can kill two birds with one stone. (OOPS, bad pun!)
Our playpen set-up is made with framed wire that is zip tied together. When it's not in use, we take it apart and hang it on the wall. The support that is next to the wall beam is wired so I can open the space up gradually. This will give the chicks a way to mingle with the older birds but still escape to the playpen sanctuary if they feel the need. Pecking order can be frightening- remember high school? Our coop has two entry doors so we make one of them the back wall of the playpen. That way I can go in and out to fill the water and feed without the chicks escaping into the coop. For safety, our brooder light is hung from a rafter so the chickens can't knock it down.
