
Six years ago, when I got my second batch of day-old chicks, I thought I had found the perfect brooder solution. I had just joined BYC and stumbled across a thread where everyone was sharing how terrified their chicks were. The common denominator seemed to be that we were all raising our chicks in a brooder on the floor, which meant bending over to reach inside and handle them.
This approach had an unfortunate side effect: the chicks ended up terrified of the hands reaching down from above, which probably felt like a predator swooping in. Of the chicks I raised in that first brooder, only two are still part of my flock, and they’re still skittish when I try to handle them, always shying away from my hands.
To fix this, I got a fresh cardboard appliance box, placed it on a table, and cut an access door into the side. The transformation in the chicks was incredible. From day one, they were calm, friendly, and easy to handle. As they grew into adults, they stayed easygoing, and some even became full-on lap chickens.

Building on that success, I next moved my chicks to a garage plant grow window. I had grown tired of the dust and dander that seemed to settle into every corner of the room where I’d been raising them inside. The window, measuring two feet by five feet, was the perfect size for about half a dozen chicks. It was bright and sunny, and the chicks had a view of the outside world—a whole new scene to watch as life went on beyond their little space.
An Unexpected Dividend
It was simple to stretch netting across the back of the window to keep the chicks safe, and I hung a shade curtain overhead to filter out the harsh sunlight. The setup was a huge success. I soon realized an unexpected benefit to raising chicks where they could see the world passing by—wildlife, people, and all sorts of activity. These chicks were practically fearless. I figured it out: because they had a wide, open view of the world from the start, they weren’t confined to the narrow, intimidating walls of a traditional brooder.
Imagine spending your first few weeks in a small, confining space, and then suddenly being thrust into a new environment full of adult chickens, larger animals, and humans moving around. It’s no wonder it’s such a stressful transition for chicks raised indoors.
The Revelation
Then, I stumbled across Blooie’s thread on the chick forum, titled “Mama Heating Pad in the Brooder.” It was a game-changer! I was getting ready for a new batch of chicks, and this was exactly the method I’d been looking for. Not only could I brood the chicks right outside in the run, but I could replicate everything I’d loved about brooding in my garage, plus so much more. I was excited to give it a try!
The Chick Learning Curve is Shortened
Chicks raised in a confined brooder box don’t have much of a sense of the world beyond their small space. It’s like nothing else exists for them. Chicks raised by a broody hen, however, learn from day one by observing the adults around them, gradually gaining confidence and figuring out their place in the pecking order with little stress or fear. Brooding chicks under a heating pad system right alongside the adult flock mimics this experience, which is arguably the next best thing to being raised by a mother hen.
Chicks raised indoors have no concept of the potential dangers posed by adult chickens. Suddenly, when they’re introduced to the larger flock after weeks in the safety of a brooder, it can be overwhelming and terrifying. But chicks raised in full view of the adults from day one are accepted as flock members right away. They can watch and learn how the pecking order works, preparing them for their own integration with less anxiety.
Early Integration Made Simple with the Panic Room Method
Typically, chicken keepers wait until their chicks are three or four months old to integrate them with the adult flock. By that time, the chicks are strangers to the adults, and the process can be stressful. But chicks raised in view of the adults can start mingling as early as three weeks, using small “portals” (chick-sized openings, about 5″ x 7″) that I’ve set up. By five or six weeks, they’re fully integrated and sleeping in the coop with the adults—unafraid and seamlessly blending in, while other chicks are still in their brooder boxes.
With these portals, my chicks can safely explore the run, interact with the adults, and learn the ropes of chicken society without fear of being cornered or hurt. It’s one more way to help them build confidence early on.
Cold-Hardened Chicks
I moved my two-day-old chicks directly from the mail-order box into the safe pen in my covered run. The pen was protected from wind and weather but otherwise unheated—except by the sun. It was early May when they arrived, and the nights were still dipping into the 30s, with daytime highs in the 50s. The chicks thrived.
This brings me to one of the greatest advantages of outdoor brooding: chicks raised in cool outdoor environments are cold-hardened from the start. Indoor chicks often need weeks or even months in a heated brooder before they can handle the cold, requiring a period of acclimatization. But outdoor-raised chicks are ready right away—no transition period needed.
In fact, I’ve noticed that these outdoor-raised chicks tend to feather out faster than indoor-raised ones. That’s definitely a bonus!
The Benefits of Outdoor Brooding
Chicks brooded indoors under a heat lamp can develop overheating issues, like pasty-butt, a potentially dangerous condition in the early days. Chicks raised in a cool, outdoor environment rarely experience this problem.
Additionally, outdoor-raised chicks may be exposed to mild pathogens in the soil, which helps them develop early immunities and resistance to common illnesses. This exposure can make them healthier in the long run—another bonus!
It’s Just More Fun
Raising chicks outdoors in a spacious, safe pen where they can run, flap their wings, and even attempt to fly is not only more natural but more fun—for both the chicks and their human caretakers. They are calm, friendly, and eager to be handled. Unlike indoor brooder chicks who often fear the disembodied hands reaching in to grab them, chicks raised outdoors are accustomed to seeing your entire body and don’t associate you with a predator attack.
Chicks raised outdoors with the adult flock, in a safe and spacious pen, gain critical skills and immunities. They develop cold resistance and learn how to navigate the social dynamics of a flock with ease. For me, it’s hands-down the best way to raise chicks.