Chick foot baths?

[HensInTheForest]

Even tho we are changing puppy pads 3 times a day there are a few who need their feet cleaned up.
A warm washcloth didn’t really take all the poop off from the underneath very well, especially from the light brahmas toe feathers Just made a muck of it.
Ok to dip in a tiny bowl of warm water to break it up then dry off with a towel??

I assume so if feathers aren’t getting wet. ..

Thoughts or a better way??
TIA!

 

[Weeg]

Even tho we are changing puppy pads 3 times a day there are a few who need their feet cleaned up.
A warm washcloth didn’t really take all the poop off from the underneath very well, especially from the light brahmas toe feathers Just made a muck of it.
Ok to dip in a tiny bowl of warm water to break it up then dry off with a towel??

I assume so if feathers aren’t getting wet. ..

Thoughts or a better way??
TIA!

When you have to treat very young chicks for pasty butt, you put their whole behinds under the warm water faucet. I would do the same thing for feet feathers. Either blow dry to use a paper towel to absorb most of the moisture.
Also, how old are they? You can switch to wood stove pellets, shavings, straw or similar to help with cleanliness. For older birds, puppy pads can be a pain.

 

[HensInTheForest]

When you have to treat very young chicks for pasty butt, you put their whole behinds under the warm water faucet. I would do the same thing for feet feathers. Either blow dry to use a paper towel to absorb most of the moisture.
Also, how old are they? You can switch to wood stove pellets, shavings, straw or similar to help with cleanliness. For older birds, puppy pads can be a pain.

Thanks! Only 1 week old plus getting 8 to 10 3 day Olds on Friday so was planning for on puppy pads for another week to 10 days or so after getting those then switching to large flake shavings. Maybe I won't make it that far with that.

Will prep the foot spa station !

 

[Weeg]

Thanks! Only 1 week old plus getting 8 to 10 3 day Olds on Friday so was planning for on puppy pads for another week to 10 days or so after getting those then switching to large flake shavings. Maybe I won't make it that far with that.

Will prep the foot spa station !

Babies get a pedicure today.
I always started my chicks on large flake shavings, I never even thought to start on puppy pads in the past. You might be okay to use large flake shavings with the little ones. If it helps keep ammonia down than thats a plus.

 

[HensInTheForest]

Thanks, I am tempted to switch over sooner I will admit likely this weekend after the new chicks come in.

I have. 7 x 7 tent brooder that’s cut in half right now for the brooder side. It’s been super easy. How often should we change large pine shavings when I switch them over? Keep dumping more on top and deep littler or remove all shavings how often??

TIA!

 

[3KillerBs]

Why not switch to shavings or some other bedding that lets the poops drop down, mix in, and dry out rapidly so that they don't have to walk in their poop on the puppy pads?

Once I take the paper towels off the shavings on day 3 or 4 (when I know they're eating properly), I don't have to clean the bedding until they're off heat and ready to integrate unless they manage to dump their water.

 

[HensInTheForest]

Why not switch to shavings or some other bedding that lets the poops drop down, mix in, and dry out rapidly so that they don't have to walk in their poop on the puppy pads?

Once I take the paper towels off the shavings on day 3 or 4 (when I know they're eating properly), I don't have to clean the bedding until they're off heat and ready to integrate unless they manage to dump their water.

Thanks for the advice.
I am moving that direction yes. With getting more 3 day Olds on Friday I was hoping to just switch over to large flake then but was trying to give the new ones a few days of flat feet as well, to monitor their poops and give them time to identify feed vs flake.

I'm sure it would be just fine to put them on the shavings too since they are super large ones and they will see where the olders are gathering to eat. . .