Holy poopy toes!

[Kickin' Chickin']

I don't know how or when it happened but at least 8 of my 10 chicks have little poop balls on their toes. I'm so mad at myself for not noticing it before it got so bad. After spending at least an hour picking concrete like poop off of the toes of my little poo machines and then having to soak the pasty chick I've come to the conclusion that the brooder I have is too small. The babies are 2 weeks old and perhaps an addition would be in order. It is made of wood so perhaps cutting a small hole in side of the box that would lead to a screened in area for them would be a good idea. I should also mention that it is in an unheated garage . Are the chicks old enough to know that they need to go back in to warm up? Funny , never had this problem the first time when there were only 4 chicks or the second time when there were 6.But this time it seems that 10 is toooooo many for my little homemade brooder box.

 

[Judy]

They are old enough to know when they need to get warm when they are a day or two old, if not at hatch. And they should have someplace to go to get away from the heat. Making a hole and a little "run" sounds like a great idea.

It would be easier to answer about the unheated garage if we knew where you are -- just the general area, for the climate.

 

[Kickin' Chickin']

From Central NY , (meaning it may be spring everywhere else but its still winter here(lol)

 

[Judy]

We don't have spring, it goes straight from winter (of sorts) to summer. 83 degrees and clouds and rain today....

You could stick a thermometer in the cooler end and see what it says, but even in your late winter I wouldn't worry about the cold end as long as it is pretty warm under the heat lamp. And it sounds like it is plenty warm there!

Good for you for brooding in the garage up north. I'll never brood in the house again.