- Jun 15, 2008
- 4,654
- 93
- 251
One, the books I've read all say to use newspaper covered with paper towels for awhile.
Two, most experts here (I'm not one) and the books say not to use hay or straw in the brooder.
Three, I've read not to use "roosts" for chicks as this can cause a "dent" in their breast bone as it is soft.
Forth, these are chickens not toys. They don't need "houses" or play things in the brooder. They are not like rabbits or guinea pigs.
Fifth, they are fragile. Little kids should not be handling chick unless your ready to deal with an injured or dead chick.
One, Newspaper is slick and often doesn't make good brooder flooring even with paper towels on it. Putting paper towels over shavings (not cedar) or pelleted bedding if you want to greatly lessen volatile oils that come in softwood shavings is a much better idea and when they are old enough not to need paper towels you can just roll them up to have a brooder of clean shavings. There is no one perfect way to raise chicks. Everyone has their own method that works. Some use sand successfully. Some just fill the brooder with chick starter so the chicks can peck and eat whatever they want without risk of eating too much of something they shouldn't.
I will agree with not using hay or straw and add they are not absorbent. In fact they are the opposite. They insulate moisture and keep things wet which can lead to illness. Eating it without grit or a fully developped system can cause problems by itself but eating moldy hay is even worse.
Never heard of breast bone damage but I don't give roosts since mine never use them before 8 weeks. Roosts should be safe at around 4-5weeks. Hens will have their chicks start roosting around that time. Sometimes they will roost earlier in the coop and I've never heard of anyone having issues with flat breast bones. I think we need some proof of where that one came from.
As for four....Chickens are alive. Chickens have some intelligence. Chickens do get bored. Chicks benefit from toys and obstacles. Put any animal in a plain empty box and it's going to develop unwanted self destructive behaviors. I found adding things to the brooder really cut down on feather picking and bullying even if it was just a stick. Chickens are not mindless creatures that sit there staring into space all day. They do need something to keep their minds occupied for good health and development.
Chicks are actually fairly sturdy as far as baby animals go. No a little kid who has no idea and will squish them without control should not hold them. However despite being used to handling small exciteable animals I've dropped a few, panicked, and found them perfectly fine. Some adults are more likely to drop chicks than children so as long as you have them keep the chicks low and preferably over the brooder I fail to see the problem unless you don't know how to teach your child the proper way to handle animals. The kindergarten class has raised them every year here and never had an incident.
Two, most experts here (I'm not one) and the books say not to use hay or straw in the brooder.
Three, I've read not to use "roosts" for chicks as this can cause a "dent" in their breast bone as it is soft.
Forth, these are chickens not toys. They don't need "houses" or play things in the brooder. They are not like rabbits or guinea pigs.
Fifth, they are fragile. Little kids should not be handling chick unless your ready to deal with an injured or dead chick.
One, Newspaper is slick and often doesn't make good brooder flooring even with paper towels on it. Putting paper towels over shavings (not cedar) or pelleted bedding if you want to greatly lessen volatile oils that come in softwood shavings is a much better idea and when they are old enough not to need paper towels you can just roll them up to have a brooder of clean shavings. There is no one perfect way to raise chicks. Everyone has their own method that works. Some use sand successfully. Some just fill the brooder with chick starter so the chicks can peck and eat whatever they want without risk of eating too much of something they shouldn't.
I will agree with not using hay or straw and add they are not absorbent. In fact they are the opposite. They insulate moisture and keep things wet which can lead to illness. Eating it without grit or a fully developped system can cause problems by itself but eating moldy hay is even worse.
Never heard of breast bone damage but I don't give roosts since mine never use them before 8 weeks. Roosts should be safe at around 4-5weeks. Hens will have their chicks start roosting around that time. Sometimes they will roost earlier in the coop and I've never heard of anyone having issues with flat breast bones. I think we need some proof of where that one came from.
As for four....Chickens are alive. Chickens have some intelligence. Chickens do get bored. Chicks benefit from toys and obstacles. Put any animal in a plain empty box and it's going to develop unwanted self destructive behaviors. I found adding things to the brooder really cut down on feather picking and bullying even if it was just a stick. Chickens are not mindless creatures that sit there staring into space all day. They do need something to keep their minds occupied for good health and development.
Chicks are actually fairly sturdy as far as baby animals go. No a little kid who has no idea and will squish them without control should not hold them. However despite being used to handling small exciteable animals I've dropped a few, panicked, and found them perfectly fine. Some adults are more likely to drop chicks than children so as long as you have them keep the chicks low and preferably over the brooder I fail to see the problem unless you don't know how to teach your child the proper way to handle animals. The kindergarten class has raised them every year here and never had an incident.
