Brooder toys

[Teeschicks]

Looking for recommendations for things to put in my brooder to keep my 14 chicks active and interested. I have no idea what breeds I have, so if you have guesses, please let me know.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Congrats on your babies!

How much space do you have in your brooder?
Are you ready to provide more space and is your outside coop/run ready for them as well?

Chicks don't really need toys. They eat, sleep and poop.
That said, depending on how your brooder is set up (photos?) you can put a little perch in there for them to practice on. I like to give mine a shallow pan of dirt/sand mixture to explore, usually I also put a piece of sod in there too. Chicks are incredibly dusty and their fluff is oily/sticky when they shed that, I try to get them out of the house within a few days if possible and brood them outside.

 

[Stephanie8806]

Yay! Chicks babies! I’m getting our 12 next week. I’ve built a 3x5 brooder box with three foot tall walls. I will be putting in a low perch/roost, a small log or two and a split piece of fire wood, and other fun outdoor plants and things they will encounter in their enclosed run and fenced yard. I want them to be familiar with the things they will see outside, taste, smells, textures, etc... and at 15 square feet, they’ll have room to stretch their little legs after I take the divider(for when they’re smaller) out

 

[Acre4Me]

@Wyorp Rock said it all!

Our brooder is 6x3 and gets a perch and a pan of chick grit when they are around 2 weeks old. Once weather is appropriate, we let them out into a small, fenced off portion of the run to meet the flock, while being protected from them at first. The pop door between the brooder and that small area of the run is always open during the day.

we’ve had a momma hen raise chicks for us and pretty much she teaches them to eat/drink/scratch around/and stay warm!

 

[CatWhisperer]

Do you already have a coop? If not, get cracking! I put a couple 6” long by approx. 4” diameter logs in my brooder for the chicks to get on and a perch for adulting practice.

 

[peachRN]

Do you already have a coop? If not, get cracking! I put a couple 6” long by approx. 4” diameter logs in my brooder for the chicks to get on and a perch for adulting practice.

We do! We need to do some repairs and add a run. We'll hopefully get moving on that within the next two weeks so it's ready for them in 4-6.