Scratching fiends!

[MadGardener]

I'm raising my first chicks (10) that came home 4/14. They're getting more feisty by the day. I have them in a roughly 3'x4' brooder box lined with cardboard outdoors. Using the mama heating pad method. I have a UFO feeder and a trough feeder. Standard chick founts that fit a mason jar. For the most part all is good, a couple need to have poo removed from their fluff but vents are clear.

The issue I'm having is their exuberant scratching. I like having them in deep pine shavings as their feet are staying clean. But they are flinging bedding into their food and water. I have the feeders and waterers raised so the bedding is being flung into the air and landing there.

I have a little cut up box for them to hide in. I arranged the water so that it's kind of behind the box from the rest of the area. This has helped.

For more experienced folks, is there any reason why I should be wary of adding cardboard vertically to make walls? Any other no- or low-cost solutions?

 

[sourland]

Cardboard siding would be a help, but move them outside as soon as is possible.

 

[samanthaoverton]

I elevate food and water myself..because chickens are stupid and either poop in their own food/water or knock it over. I loathe chicken feeders/waterers. Currently with my much older chicks..I took a cottage cheese container, cleaned it, and cut a hole in the lid big enough for a chicken head to fit in then snapped the lid back on. It was a 32 oz container..if your guys are tall enough then this might work for you. I use this for water.

 

[MadGardener]

I elevate food and water myself..because chickens are stupid and either poop in their own food/water or knock it over. I loathe chicken feeders/waterers. Currently with my much older chicks..I took a cottage cheese container, cleaned it, and cut a hole in the lid big enough for a chicken head to fit in then snapped the lid back on. It was a 32 oz container..if your guys are tall enough then this might work for you. I use this for water.

I have everything elevated. It doesn't seem to be coming from their feet at the feeder.

I have a ton of containers I could experiment with. Great suggestion.

 

[MadGardener]

Cardboard siding would be a help, but move them outside as soon as is possible.

Agreed! I hope to have the new coop with brooder/integration space ready soon. And have a spare small "plan b" coop. I'm glad for giving brooing a spin before vertical construction begins though.

I've also learned to check the dry before recoating time on paint from now on. 24 hours is a drag.

 

[MadGardener]

Temporary solution so I can run to town today. Old Pepsi box divider. Vinegar bottle held a chick waterer with access holes. Old box with access holes for trough feeder. They're poking their little heads through OK

My brooder is ugly as sin but the chicks are happy.

 

[samanthaoverton]

Love it

Temporary solution so I can run to town today. Old Pepsi box divider. Vinegar bottle held a chick waterer with access holes. Old box with access holes for trough feeder. They're poking their little heads through OK

My brooder is ugly as sin but the chicks are happy.

 

[Sono]

I elevate food and water myself..because chickens are stupid and either poop in their own food/water or knock it over. I loathe chicken feeders/waterers. Currently with my much older chicks..I took a cottage cheese container, cleaned it, and cut a hole in the lid big enough for a chicken head to fit in then snapped the lid back on. It was a 32 oz container..if your guys are tall enough then this might work for you. I use this for water.

Made a poop free feeder and also put a container around the mason jar waterer to keep them from kicking debris into the water, small opening so they can drink... once they all started using the drip nipple water bottle the mason jar was removed. No wet bedding, no debris or poop in food or water, very clean set up. As they got bigger they were getting on top of the feeder so I screwed a platform to the bottom attached to a piece of 2X to raise it a bit, now it wont tip and they cant kick bedding into the food opening.

 

[samanthaoverton]

Me likes your thinking

 

[MadGardener]

I think part of the problem I was having is the super narrow chick feeders allowed the shavings to pack, I've moved up to "size 2" now and it's more manageable.

Larger containers with acces holes made a big difference! Creating "walls" helped as well.

They'll be moving to their big girl coop Monday! Having more space, and getting some grass time will be great.