1 wk old tmorrow--can i take paper towels out? there goin BATTY!

[Mama2B&D&...Chickens]

seriusly...flying like crazy in there and chasing after one another! i feel bad for my lazy girl but geesh...we got crazy chicks!!! LOL I don't know why but i'm so worried there going to eat there pine shavings!!!

 

[gritsar]

Do they know where their food is? Obviously they do if they are eating enough to have that kind of energy. Take em off the paper towels. They really aren't necessary after the chicks figure out where the food is. As for the crazies, that's all chicks.
P.S. They are going to pick up some pine shavings and put them in their mouths. That's how they figure out what's food and what's not. They'll also roll in em, dustbath in em, kick em into their food, water......

 

[Mama2B&D&...Chickens]

HAHA--thanks...and yes, there definetely aware of the food bin! OINK OINKs!

 

[kyeschicks]

Quote:
I hate when that happens! almost every 10mins I have to change their water!

 

[Mama2B&D&...Chickens]

HAHA! Thanks for the edit in... YEP--that's exactly what they did and EXACTLY what I was worried about! They stopped trying to eat them now and i watched them all go back over to food so i figure the conclusions there...water changes are going to be FUN

There scratching like there diggin to China!!!

 

[Revelle]

Mama2B&D&...Chickens :

HAHA! Thanks for the edit in... YEP--that's exactly what they did and EXACTLY what I was worried about! They stopped trying to eat them now and i watched them all go back over to food so i figure the conclusions there...water changes are going to be FUN

There scratching like there diggin to China!!!

My littlest one digs a hole to the bottom of the brooder, then one of the bigger ones sees what shes doing and starts kicking the shavings back in.

I don't think shavings are problems if they're big enough.

 

[gritsar]

Here's a helpful hint. Raise your waterer up on something. The basin of the waterer should be level with the height of the smallest chicks's back. You want them to reach just a bit to get a drink.
They'll still get the water dirty, but it won't be quite as bad. You can raise the feeder too, same height. I don't worry about food they kick around. They'll eat if off the floor of the brooder as well as they will out of the feeder.

 

[felidaet]

Elevate the waterer to help keep the shavings out. I out mine on a block of wood last year. They are still going to get some shavings it it but it will help.

 

[Mama2B&D&...Chickens]

Thanks for the elevation tip! We had it elevated already on a piece of plywood but going to have to get a peice of regular wood tommorrow!

 

[djackjr]

Water + shavings = cleanup everytime I check on the little fuzzbuts!