Brooder cleaning

[CKMom]

I have 12 day old chicks in a brooder. On day 4 I had a chick die, so I cleaned out the food and chips, and quickly put things back together for the rest of them.
Today I wanted to clean it again, and the birds made such a fuss, I figured there must be an easier way.

I've added food grade DE this time under the chips, and it already smells tons better, they sure poop alot ( I have 15).

Do you remove your birds to clean, or just work around them?

 

[MagsC]

I just work around mine, I figure they have to get used to me anyway,lol.

 

[SimplyForties]

I take mine out. I have a biggish box sitting next to my brooder and I scoop them all out, one by one, and stick them in that box while I clean the brooder. I clean my brooder morning and evening and it gives me a good opportunity to carefully examine each chick as I put her back in the brooder. It also ensures that I handle each chick at least twice a day!

 

[toyzbox]

I'm with SimplyForties. Taking them out one by one is how I found out I (they) had a pasty butt problem. Also, it gave me a chance to handle them and get them use to me

 

[pkeeler]

How big is your brooder? I try to allow 1 sf per chick. With that much space, I've never had to clean one out. If droppings pile up in an area, then I just put more shavings on top. I try and order my chicks for late May or early June, which means they can go out to the coop at 4 weeks.

It is not unusual to lose a chick in the first few days, especially if they were shipped. I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that there was any kind of brooder problem.

 

[CKMom]

Thanks!
The brooder is large(for now, they grow fast), and I was adding wood chips, but just thought I should change them out, and I wanted to add DE to the bottom.
I have to resist not handling them too much, they are so darn cute. So far no pasty butt, but I check daily. There are a few that don't mind me holding them, but the rest don't care for it.

 

[LibertyRunMom]

Silly question - but, what is DE? I'm setting up my brooder this week because my babies will be here next week.

 

[jprinc44]

DE is diatomaceous earth powder. I have read pro and con points on this, but I tend to use it myself in the adult coop. The only thing I would worry about in a brooder setting is them breathing the dust, as on of the con points I read is it can dry their lungs out if exposed too soon after putting it down. If using in a brooder while the birds are in there, I would imagine the dust would tend to fly around a bit? Just my humble opinion. Janet

 

[Gonzo]

I put mine in their play yard, and clean it. where did you find the DE at? I've only found in online...

 

[CKMom]

I actually found it right at the feed mill. It is in a huge bag, says Permaguard, food grade. Enough to last a good long while. I mixed it with the chips before I added them to the brooder, and only a small amount.