Covering Brooder?

[BR75]

How soon can chicks begin to fly? Mine are 6 days old and seem to be really excersizing their winds! When should I cover by brooder to ensure they do not fly/get out?

 

[Judy]

Actually, now. I used bird netting from Home Depot, meant to keep birds off fruit on bushes or trees; cost was about $6.

Young chicks can fly a lot better than when they are grown; the weight keeps the older ones down.

 

[Petej]

I cover my Brooder with 1/4" hardware mesh stapled to a wooden frame.

Not only does this give me a place to put the heat lamp, but it helps keep the birds in too.