JUMPING CHICKS!!! HELP!!

Date sort Score sort
Cometsea

Cometsea

In the Brooder
Mar 14, 2015
16
2
24
wee.gif
Hello again, well my chicks are now 3 weeks old and they are growing so nicely but maybe too fast. See, I made my brooder myself and I thought it would work out great but now I am afraid they may get out and get hurt. My brooder is made out of 2 large cardboard boxes put together in an octagon shape. (I found this example on BYC) I only have 6 chicks so the area is large enough for them to roam and have fun but now they are JUMPING. Yesterday we found one of them perched on the rim of the brooder just waiting to jump down and run free. Originally the sides of the brooder were about 24" high but now we have put the top flaps up in a way that it is doubled, about 48", but I am still concerned. Any suggestions? They are too young yet to out in a coop but I don't want them to get hurt in any way either. The brooder is inside, in a guest room above our garage. Any help would be great.
 
Do you have a plastic tote? Or a calf feeder tub? Anything durable that you can place something over the top works well. We have used the metal door of a dog crate, a laundry bag, chicken wire, really anything just so they can't jump up on the sides. That would be your best bet, because you are right - they will be running all over in no time! :)

You may want to consider trying to makeshift a small roost so they have something to jump up to as well. We made a teeny one out of doll rod that we keep around for our chicks.
 
We put chicken wire on top to keep them from jumping out, since our polish is like a sparrow (doesn't even look like a chicken). It can leap 5 feet into the air. You could also use some old metal fencing that's hanging around.
 
Lay a piece of poultry netting or bird netting across the top - light enough for the cardboard sides to support and more than sufficient to keep them where they belong. It's about creating the impression of a barrier.
 
Thanks everyone for the great ideas. I'm going to get some chicken wire right now. I will keep you posted.
 

Similar threads

MamaChick20
Question 😣
Replies
6
Views
342
MamaChick20
MamaChick20
A
    • Like
Mom and chicks transition to outside
Replies
7
Views
269
RebeccaBoyd
RebeccaBoyd
C
    • Like
Brooder system for 20 (ish) chicks?
2
Replies
13
Views
2K
21hens-incharge
21hens-incharge
PrairiePeckers
    • Love
Need help! Baby chick got too cold (outside in storm)
Replies
4
Views
362
SandyRiverChick
SandyRiverChick
S
    • Like
    • Wow
What do I do!
Replies
8
Views
615
Skyylarrbrycee
S

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom