First time with chickens - home from the feed store today!

[Chicksnmind]

Put rocks or marbles in the water to prevent drowning. They can drink in between them . I didn’t know this when I first got chicks and I lost a little one the second day .

 

[tspataro]

Thanks! This is next on my list.

They seem to be getting along fine for now but I want them to have more space to explore. Did you put a tarp or anything down at the bottom of the cardboard boxes for easier cleanup? I’m worried the excrement will wreck the box quickly. (I’m using pine shavings too.)

Such cuties!
Also you might want to move them to a bigger brooder... my family kept our eight in a bin like that in the beginning, but they started fighting and pecking at each other because they didn't have enough room. We used cardboard boxes for the rest of their chickhood!

 

[Abriana]

Thanks! This is next on my list.

They seem to be getting along fine for now but I want them to have more space to explore. Did you put a tarp or anything down at the bottom of the cardboard boxes for easier cleanup? I’m worried the excrement will wreck the box quickly. (I’m using pine shavings too.)

I just used pine shavings too, and I switched out the boxes every so often. I never thought about using a tarp, but that is a great idea!

 

[LearninMyFlock]

WELCOME!!! Enjoy!!! Such fun to have babies to care for. And welcome to this great group of people!!! I love all the friendly info I find here.

 

[moniquem]

Did you put a tarp or anything down at the bottom of the cardboard boxes for easier cleanup? I’m worried the excrement will wreck the box quickly. (I’m using pine shavings too.)

I used potty pads on top of my box and under the shavings. It was easy to just roll up the whole mess and put in a trash bag. They are so messy!!

 

[LearninMyFlock]

I used potty pads on top of my box and under the shavings. It was easy to just roll up the whole mess and put in a trash bag. They are so messy!!

.
I like that idea!!! But i think I'm going to try cardboard or paper so I can compost it

 

[aart]

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I like that idea!!! But i think I'm going to try cardboard or paper so I can compost it

Be careful it's not slippery, can cause spraddle leg...
....I use paper towels over PDZ in the brooder.

 

[cmom]

Thanks! This is next on my list.

They seem to be getting along fine for now but I want them to have more space to explore. Did you put a tarp or anything down at the bottom of the cardboard boxes for easier cleanup? I’m worried the excrement will wreck the box quickly. (I’m using pine shavings too.)

For more space I have used melon boxes. I put plastic down in the bottom and shavings over the plastic. Worked very well.

 

[tspataro]

For more space I have used melon boxes. I put plastic down in the bottom and shavings over the plastic. Worked very well.
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Very cool! I like that idea. I dug up an old mattress box (one of those that ships rolled up) and it’s perfect. I used paper bags underneath the shavings so I can swap them out if it gets too bad.

 

[LearninMyFlock]

Be careful it's not slippery, can cause spraddle leg...
....I use paper towels over PDZ in the brooder.

OK. THANKS!!!