4 week old chicks with raw bottoms after move to outdoor brooder.

[Coop de Grass]

I recently built an outdoor brooder that has 1/4" hardware cloth floor. The lower units are 12 inches above the ground - I wanted to be able to clean under the unit easily. The first morning I found several chicks with raw and bloody bottoms with feathers missing. I cleaned them up and applied veterycin and pik no more. They seem to be on the mend.

Is this a result of a predator trying to get at the chicks from below? I immediately added wood pieces above the hardware cloth.

Any advice would be helpful!

 

[ChickNanny13]

Possible, you could wrap the ground section with hardware cloth so nothing can get under it. Leave a section opened yet secured tightly, "folding" it back to get under to clean? Just a thought. My brooder is wood floor & I do a mini version of DLM plus I always start my chicks on FF so after a few days it's less poop, no stink & no waste. Will admit the feather legged ones get messy but I read someone uses ice cube trays for feeders. LOVE FF & DLM!

 

[Coop de Grass]

Possible, you could wrap the ground section with hardware cloth so nothing can get under it. Leave a section opened yet secured tightly, "folding" it back to get under to clean? Just a thought. My brooder is wood floor & I do a mini version of DLM plus I always start my chicks on FF so after a few days it's less poop, no stink & no waste. Will admit the feather legged ones get messy but I read someone uses ice cube trays for feeders. LOVE FF & DLM!

Do you mean fermented feed? Can I do that with medicated starter feed? Deep litter was what I hoped to do. I could still do it if I made a door. I have different feeders - there is an egg carton in one of the units. This is a photo taken before I added the 2 upper units.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Do you mean fermented feed? Can I do that with medicated starter feed? Deep litter was what I hoped to do. I could still do it if I made a door. I have different feeders - there is an egg carton in one of the units. This is a photo taken before I added the 2 upper units.

Yes I meant fermented feed & not sure what others do but I do start my chicks off with medicated & fermented feed at least the 1 - 2 months. I used but don't anymore, feed the CS until 18wks then switch them to Layer. Now I buy a small bag of medicated CS, when I'm done with it switch them to fermented Flock Raiser, adding Oyster Shells in a separate dish when they start laying & not any sooner.

I use the red trough style plastic feeder picked up at the feed store with a lid but when they're bigger I remove the lid. I've had Hubby secure (stainless steel screws) it to a painted 2 x 4 for height as they got older, have also used a plastic dog bowl which works fine. The batch that I have now "prefer" the trough but the 2 batches I've had prior prefer the dog bowl, yup spoiled. Remember when doing FF plastic or glass container, not using metal utinsels or dishes.

You'll love DLM, is easy & fast maintenance. Research everything on this site, you'll get a bunch of ideas. Great site for advice & information

 

[Coop de Grass]

Yes I meant fermented feed & not sure what others do but I do start my chicks off with medicated & fermented feed at least the 1 - 2 months. I used but don't anymore, feed the CS until 18wks then switch them to Layer. Now I buy a small bag of medicated CS, when I'm done with it switch them to fermented Flock Raiser, adding Oyster Shells in a separate dish when they start laying & not any sooner.

I use the red trough style plastic feeder picked up at the feed store with a lid but when they're bigger I remove the lid. I've had Hubby secure (stainless steel screws) it to a painted 2 x 4 for height as they got older, have also used a plastic dog bowl which works fine. The batch that I have now "prefer" the trough but the 2 batches I've had prior prefer the dog bowl, yup spoiled. Remember when doing FF plastic or glass container, not using metal utinsels or dishes.

You'll love DLM, is easy & fast maintenance. Research everything on this site, you'll get a bunch of ideas. Great site for advice & information

Thanks! I'm going to start fermenting in the morning... I love BYC. I always recommend it to anyone starting with chickens!

 

[ChickNanny13]

I love BYC too. Hope the FF works for you, worked for me.

 

[Coop de Grass]

I love BYC too. Hope the FF works for you, worked for me.

I should have filled a bucket with water yesterday - now I have to wait for the chlorine to evaporate!!!

 

[Coop de Grass]

I love BYC too. Hope the FF works for you, worked for me.

Just had to tell you that I've been feeding fermented feed to my chicks since the 28th. I have 4 Legbar pullets in my family room - they hatched on July 15. This is the first time that the rubbermaid brooder hasn't stunk immediately! They are consuming the same amount of food, but the poop doesn't seem to be as messy or as smelly. Is that possible? The chicks also seem to be growing faster.
I am going to switch the whole flock by the weekend. Thank you!

 

[ChickNanny13]

Yup, it's the fermenting of your feed LOVE IT!

 

[Coop de Grass]

Yup, it's the fermenting of your feed LOVE IT!