HELP!! Sand new in brooder and chicks crops full!

[LadyAchee]

Should I put grit in there? Or do you mean litter for bathing? I can figure out how to put sand back in. They slowed down on eating it quite a bit when I moved them to the bigger brooder. Plus I have away bigger feeder in there now.

Just so they aren't only on just mat. Sand is my favorite bedding/litter so far. So practical and easy to scoop with a cat litter scoop. Everything sounds perfect! So glad their crops emptied. They love to give us panic attacks!

 

[LadyAchee]

Mine were roosting from about 4 weeks so it's more litter than bedding. Since they much prefer to roost then sleep on the ground to bed. You definitely don't have to have a roost in your brooder. But they will LOVE it!

 

[NatJ]

Should I put grit in there? Or do you mean litter for bathing? I can figure out how to put sand back in.

Something they can scratch around in. It gives them something to do.

Sand, hay, wood shavings, dry leaves--lots of options.

 

[Farmgirl1878]

I used sand in the brooder for my first and second batches of chicks and the chicks raised by momma last year were on sand from the time they hatched. None of mine overate the sand, but I had the feeder and waterer set up on a paper towel in the brooder the first day, so maybe that made the difference?

And they LOVE, LOVE, LOVE having things to climb up on! I use a heating plate, so they would hop up and roost on that. Plus they had a roost made out of a tree branch - loved that as well. They graduated to a 2x4 roost and have been sleeping on that ever since.

Anyway, glad to hear all is well!

 

[Farmgirl1878]

And one bit of helpful info I learned too late... use the Glad Press and Seal plastic wrap to cover (just) the top of your brooder heating plate. Then, when they poop on it, cuz we know they will, you can just peel the plastic wrap off and put on a new layer! Presto, chango, clean brooder!

 

[The_Flock]

And one bit of helpful info I learned too late... use the Glad Press and Seal plastic wrap to cover (just) the top of your brooder heating plate. Then, when they poop on it, cuz we know they will, you can just peel the plastic wrap off and put on a new layer! Presto, chango, clean brooder!

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Thank you very much. I did this when we first made the MHP.

 

[The_Flock]

I'm hoping you guys can see this video. I put a longer feeder and another round one in the brooder and now they are happy to eat the food and not the sand. They are jumping and bumping and getting big. We are planning on attaching a tote to the side of the crate to give them more space indoors. When the weather is good we'll start putting them outside for a little bit. ❤

https://www.dropbox.com/s/f7wxoeywf122yeu/20200623_091748.mp4?dl=0

 

[LadyAchee]

Looks good! Cute babies! I loved when your little one said "practice makes perfect!"

 

[The_Flock]

Looks good! Cute babies! I loved when your little one said "practice makes perfect!"

Ya...he's an ancient soul in an 8yr old body. Lol. ❤
Thank you for your compliment.

 

[The_Flock]

This is where the wee girls are now. They are 19 days old and are loving the space and freedom. I can't lie...I love watching them.