Dumar Rabbit Cages for Rearing Chicks

[centrarchid]

This year I am trying to reduce area required to rear broods of chicks. Currently three broods, all under hens, are being kept in garage attached to house. Cages are first and for most to keep hens apart but they also allow some degree of mobility where I can move broods. Later as chicks grow the pens will be more important for protecting the birds while roosting from and facilitate getting chicks to roost up. The cages are not so perfect so will address adjustments.

 

[centrarchid]

Wire openings too large to contain some newly hatched standard sized fowl. Breeds of current concern are American Dominiques, American Games, and something development called Missouri Dominiques. Egg size, a critical concern for this as impacts initial chick size, is medium. At hatch, chicks are able to squeeze through gaps easily. Chicks need to be a solid week old for gaps to be too small to prevent escapement. This a major problem re-appeared with chicks just hatching. The cage increases odds wet chicks drift from mother. Making fixes on that.

 

[kitkat5505]

I used one of those as a brooder for my chicks. I put cardboard around the outside of it except the door. Heat stayed in better (it was still getting down to freezing and they were in the garage and no mama hen to huddle under, so that was a concern) and nobody squeezed out.

 

[Bunnylady]

Wire openings too large to contain some newly hatched standard sized fowl.

Those openings are too large to contain newborn rabbits, too. There is a type of wire mesh called "baby saver wire" that has 1/2" openings in the bottom 6" of the wall. Though you can buy the wire or order cages made with it from rabbitry supply places, I haven't seen kits made with baby saver wire at any farm supply store. Installing hardware cloth around the bottom is one possible fix.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

I'm curious why you separate. It's just so much more work, in my experience.

 

[centrarchid]

I'm curious why you separate. It's just so much more work, in my experience.

Try raising six broods that roost in a 10' x 20' area. Broods are no more than a week apart in age. Then take into account I am shooting for 8 chicks surviving on average per brood through 5 weeks.

Note I indicate and average of 8 chicks surviving per brood. Hen-hen conflicts reduce that markedly. Some of the hens I want to push through cycle more than once per season. Stressed hens are slower to recondition.

Add to the equation similar cohorts at roughly one month intervals that can younger and older.

 

[Folly's place]

I also raise bantams, and the chicks can go through chicken wire for a couple of weeks!!! Also through some airline crate door edges. We do live and learn... Mary