Chicken Coops with Built-In Brooders

Should You Put a Chicken Brooder Inside Your Coop?

If you’re raising baby chicks, you’ve probably heard the word “brooder.” A brooder is a warm, safe space where chicks live for their first few weeks of life. It usually has a heat source, food, water, and bedding. But here’s a question we get a lot:

“Can I keep my brooder inside my chicken coop?”

While it might sound like a good idea, there are some important things to think about first. Let’s break it down.

Why Don’t Most Coops Come with a Brooder?

Most chicken coops don’t include a brooder because coops are made for grown hens—not for chicks. Coops are designed for laying eggs, roosting, and protecting your flock from the weather and predators. Baby chicks need a much warmer, cleaner space that’s easier to watch over. Chicks need a safe place to grow as adult hens can peck them to death.

Also, many coops and brooders are made by different manufacturers. A brooder is usually a smaller, separate setup you keep in a garage, barn, or even inside your home or workshop until the chicks are old enough to go outside.

Dangers of Putting a Brooder Inside a Coop

The biggest risk? Fire. Most brooders use heat lamps or electrical heaters to keep the chicks warm. If the lamp tips over or touches bedding, feathers, or wood, it can start a fire fast.

• Wood shavings and straw are flammable
• Heat lamps can reach over 400°F
• Coops are made of wood and often filled with dust, feathers, and dry bedding

In fact, coop fires are one of the most common accidents during chick season. Some studies estimate that hundreds of small coop fires happen each year—and many of them start with heat lamps.

So Where Should You Brood Chicks Instead?

The safest place for a brooder is somewhere you can watch it closely—like a heated garage, a basement, a workshop, or a spare room. You want a place that’s clean, dry, safe from pets, and where the temperature can be controlled.

Once your chicks are fully feathered (usually around 5–6 weeks old), they can move out to the big coop. By then, they won’t need as much heat and can safely join the rest of your flock (after a little introduction time, of course!). But use your judgement and still watch them closely. Also, consider the outside temperature so that's not below 50 degrees Fahrenheit during the introduction.

Tips for Fire Safety During Chick Season

• Use a brooder heater plate instead of a heat lamp—it’s safer and uses less power
• If you must use a heat lamp, always secure it tightly above the brooder
• Never let the heat source touch bedding or be close to wood
• Keep your brooder clean and dry
• Check your cords and outlets for damage

Can a Brooder Be in the Coop Safely?

Sometimes, people build a separate brooder section inside a large coop, especially in colder months. If you do this, make sure:

• It’s far from roosting bars and adult hens
• It has a solid wall or screen for protection
• You use a safe, low-heat brooder plate instead of a lamp
• You check it multiple times a day

Still, for most backyard farmers and homesteaders, brooding chicks outside in a coop isn’t worth the risk.

Final Thoughts

Raising baby chicks is one of the best parts of chicken keeping. But keeping them safe—especially from fire—is the most important job of all. That’s why we recommend brooding your chicks in a safe indoor spot, and saving the coop for when they’re a little older and feathered out.

If you’re looking for a quality brooder or a custom coop to fit your future flock, Family Backyard Store has you covered with trusted brands and helpful advice.