Chicks for the first Time

[Jeanna Marie]

The adjoining totes is a good idea.  I'm thinking I can attach a large cardboard box and do a similar thing.  Thanks for the photos.

I didn't have any cardboard boxes but I wanted something that I coukd use again and again...

 

[sirbuster]

I have gone to my local walmart and got a potato box they are very big and walmart said I could have as many as i wanted i just had to come and get them. I call them and they have it waiting on me for free.

 

[missnu01]

I've heard of people having great luck using melon boxes.

 

[EmSteele]

We are using our aquarium.....I knew there was a reason we never got around to filling it with fish!

 

[kynewbchickie]

Is PDZ the equine bedding that you use? I have some and was wondering if it was safe to use alone as the bedding for baby chicks. I also don't like the thought of them eating the pine shavings. I have shavings in one of my brooders and sand in the one with bigger chicks.

I'm using PDZ in the big coop on the poop boards under their roosts, and it is completely safe if they consume it - actually works like grit according to the manufacturer. The equine stall bedding I used in the brooder was large pellet, biodegradable and 100% compostable pine fiber I believe...TSC sells a 40# bag of it for $6 at our closest store. Dark green bag. I found it to be much cleaner, better at odor control, and had to be changed less often than the regular pine shavings. I have even spread it in the floor of the big coop, but will have to put up a rail of some sort across the floor in front of the door, as the pellets get wedged between the door jamb and hinge, and make it incredibly difficult to shut the door back (I have an 8x12 lofted barn shed as a coop).

 

[debjo]

My three chickies are two weeks old today - and I had to upgrade their accommodations. I lined my unused bathtub in plastic, then in an old sheet, then a layer of cardboard and the shavings last. It's a pretty deep tub so I'm convinced they'll be happy there until I can get my hands on the old dog crates my mom has in her garage. The temperature seems to be regulating far more easily than the box - I assume because the tub holds more heat.

They've all started trying to fly - and can now fly onto my arm when it's a foot or so above them.

Love the idea of a tree perch from the pet storm, and am going to try both hard boiled eggs and mealworms. Thank goodness for this forum!

Here they are - Amelia, Kaia, and Snuggly Sue - two americaunas and a gold laced wyandotte.

 

[dennymeyrand]

My three chickies are two weeks old today - and I had to upgrade their accommodations. I lined my unused bathtub in plastic, then in an old sheet, then a layer of cardboard and the shavings last. It's a pretty deep tub so I'm convinced they'll be happy there until I can get my hands on the old dog crates my mom has in her garage. The temperature seems to be regulating far more easily than the box - I assume because the tub holds more heat. They've all started trying to fly - and can now fly onto my arm when it's a foot or so above them. Love the idea of a tree perch from the pet storm, and am going to try both hard boiled eggs and mealworms. Thank goodness for this forum! Here they are - Amelia, Kaia, and Snuggly Sue - two americaunas and a gold laced wyandotte.

I never considered using an old bathtub. I have one i saved from a remodel project.

 

[kynewbchickie]

My three chickies are two weeks old today - and I had to upgrade their accommodations. I lined my unused bathtub in plastic, then in an old sheet, then a layer of cardboard and the shavings last. It's a pretty deep tub so I'm convinced they'll be happy there until I can get my hands on the old dog crates my mom has in her garage. The temperature seems to be regulating far more easily than the box - I assume because the tub holds more heat.

They've all started trying to fly - and can now fly onto my arm when it's a foot or so above them.

Love the idea of a tree perch from the pet storm, and am going to try both hard boiled eggs and mealworms. Thank goodness for this forum!

Here they are - Amelia, Kaia, and Snuggly Sue - two americaunas and a gold laced wyandotte.

The old bathtub is a GREAT concept! Also, if you feed treats like meal worms and things we would have to chew up, make sure you give them some chick grit. I got my babies used to getting their grit out of one hand, and then offering the worms, veggie slices from the other once they'd gotten some grit. Red worms seem to be the favorite treat for mine, and now where they're outside permanently, I scatter their grit on the ground and they LOVE dandelions.

You've got some pretty babies there!

 

[debjo]

Does sand work as grit or do I have to get something in particular?

 

[dennymeyrand]

Does sand work as grit or do I have to get something in particular? 

Use chick grit. It's smaller than the stuff for full size birds.