Brooder floor

[jjdward]

I have a little chicken hutch that I was thinking of using it for a brooder. It has a wire bottom and I was thinking that would be better than a solid floor. Any thoughts?

 

[Sorin]

I don't know

I would think it would be rough on their tender feet, not to mention the possibility of their feet going through the wire. What type of wire? it would be easier to clean. Maybe someone else has tried it before and will say something.

 

[Anianna]

I think the risk of splayed legs would be greater on the wire. Can you lay a board in there while you are using it as a brooder and then remove it later? It wouldn't need to be anything heavy, like that thin stuff they use to fix bathroom floors suffering some rough spots. I can't remember what it is called, but it is essentially a really thin plywood.

 

[jjdward]

The wire is rabbit wire.

 

[stubbornhill]

I just moved my 10, 4 week old chicks out to the barn last night. They are in a brooder with wire bottom. It is however, sitting on shavings and then I put some additional shavings in the brooder. I think they would have been ok without the added shavings, but decided to put shavings in for added comfort as they were scratching the wire. They had their heat lamp and when I went out this morning everyone was fine and happy!

 

[Nicole01]

I personally think a hard floor with pine chips works really well. The pine really helps keep the smell out and it's real easy to clean. I scoop the poop out several times a day. I throw food everywhere on top of having a food dish for them to scratch and find. The chicks are in the house and I only smell a faint smell of pine. My oldest girls are 5 weeks. They also love to take dust baths in the bedding.

 

[chick on a stick]

Thinking of chickens walking on wire makes me sad.

 

[Eggcessive]

I have one of those little chicken hutches also with wire, but I definitely would put a piece of plywood or even a large rubber mat with pine shavings in it. I have been doctoring a chick for a week with splayed legs that it got in the incubator, and it's no fun.

 

[Anianna]

Quote:
I wouldn't recommend putting them on rabbit wire. It's hard on their feet and rats, possums, and other critters can get their toes. Heap it up with with shavings (use the right kind to avoid respiratory distress) or put a surface in there.

 

[mylulusmom]

Oh JJ...PLEASE take a moment and read my post from today ..."Help something ate the toes off my baby chicks." I am sick over this and I still dont know if its the wire or an animal. (probably will never know either ) Now I'm doctoring babies.. . Mine's Rabbit wire too.