How To Keep Keets Clean?

[newb1rdmom]

I've only had my keets for about a week now I think and I've probably already cleaned out their bedding 3-4 times if not more. I have two sets of keets in two different boxes, one with wood chips (older keets) and one with puppy pads and sand (younger keets). I've probably only changed the wood chips about 2 maybe 3 times but the puppy pads seem to be getting yucky a lot quicker. I noticed that some of my keets also have feces stuck to their feet -- which i will clean up with some coconut oil to get it loose -- but I just put the new puppy pads in not even a day ago and there's already a pile of poo and food mixture in the middle of the box.

I feel like with the wood chips some of the feces and such get scratched out to the bottom of the box so the top layer is somewhat clean for a bit longer but that isn't the case with the puppy pads as there's nowhere for the feces to fall down into and the layer of sand is very light and just enough for them to have something to scratch on and push around.

I'm not really sure how often you're supposed to clean the boxes out because I haven't really found anything that says a general duration, only things saying to keep the keets clean. I'm also wondering when is a good age to introduce the wood chips for the bedding for the smaller ones. I recently had an issue where the younger keets were eating the wood chips and I didn't realize so I ended up losing 3 of them because they could not pass the chips properly. I have grit now that I give them a little of but I'm not quite comfortable putting them on the chips just yet even with the grit. I believe the younger keets are around a week old maybe a week and a half but not much more than that.

Also; bonus side question: My older keets are scratching almost all their food out of the feeder onto the ground and I'm not sure how to keep them from scratching it all onto the floor. I know they will do it a little regardless but I filled their food yesterday morning and by around 5pm that night they had already emptied the entire feeder onto the ground. I don't want to keep filling it up and having them scratch it onto the ground because I don't want food to be wasted as when its down there they inevitably poo in their own food and I have to clean it out. They also keep putting woodchips into their water -- which is raised off the ground -- and the chips soak up the water so I'm having to constantly clean that and refill it as well.. They're a bit frustrating lol

 

[newb1rdmom]

edit: the coconut oil didn't help much getting the feces off the feet. it's a bit too dry.. i managed to flake a couple pieces off but i don't want to stress the keet out too much and they were very unhappy being held to have their feet cleaned + i don't want to injure the feet by tugging too much.. advice?

 

[Sydney65]

3-4x a WK? I did it 2x a day when they were that little. There's no place on pads or paper towels for it to go but their feet. I did the cups in the water bottle so there was nothing to spill. As for feed, I was home w/them, so was able to only put out enough for one feeding at a time.
While holding, you can let the bird's foot soak in shallow cont of coconut oil to soften before removing. It's good for them to get used to being handled and you def want that softened up before you go pulling on it. I just donned gloves and massaged their feet and legs to get it off rather than trying to scrub or rub. Again, it lets them get used to you messing w/their feet.

 

[R2elk]

edit: the coconut oil didn't help much getting the feces off the feet. it's a bit too dry.. i managed to flake a couple pieces off but i don't want to stress the keet out too much and they were very unhappy being held to have their feet cleaned + i don't want to injure the feet by tugging too much.. advice?

I just use my thumbnails to break the dried crap loose. I kind of pinch it making sure that I am pinching alongside the toes and not directly on them.

It has been my experience that chicks do a pretty good job of keeping their feet clean. Turkey poults, not so good, guinea keets are by far the worst. Adult guineas aren't much better than the keets about keeping their feet clean.

 

[Sydney65]

"Adult guineas aren't much better than the keets about keeping their feet clean."

No Kidding.

 

[newb1rdmom]

3-4x a WK? I did it 2x a day when they were that little. There's no place on pads or paper towels for it to go but their feet.

I know! I feel like if I don’t constantly clean it everytime I go in there they will just be covered in their own feces but I will run out of puppy pads if I change it that much. Do you recommend completely changing the pads or just wiping up the poo and such and disposing of it? I’m not entirely sure it just comes off but maybe?

 

[newb1rdmom]

As for feed, I was home w/them, so was able to only put out enough for one feeding at a time.

I’m pretty much home with them 24/7 but I’m not sure whats the appropriate amount of food for them to eat at a time which is partially why I just let them eat from the feeder. There’s 9 of the larger keets — the trouble makers — so what would you consider a decent serving size for them if I were to just put out enough for them to feed a little at a time?

While holding, you can let the bird's foot soak in shallow cont of coconut oil to soften before removing. It's good for them to get used to being handled and you def want that softened up before you go pulling on it. I just donned gloves and massaged their feet and legs to get it off rather than trying to scrub or rub. Again, it lets them get used to you messing w/their feet.

They really dislike me touching them. They all scatter and panic a bit when I even reach in the change the food or water let alone touch one.. I try to hold them a little so maybe they get used to me but it doesn’t seem to work & I also don’t want to over handle them. Do you have any suggestions for how to get them more comfortable? My larger keets are much worse since I got them from a store. They seem to really dislike me.. I tend to let them be because I don’t know if they will get stressed out from my attempts to handle them..

But I will try the soaking in coconut oil for the dirty feet! The smaller ones do calm down a bit after a while of being held but they also like to flail and claw at my hands.. Wish me luck lol

 

[Sydney65]

You can do inbetween clean ups w/a tissue. I forget how old yours are. At some point, I felt they were able to maintain body temp well enough that I brought a small kiddie pool in their room and let them eat in that while I cleaned out brooder. They loved it, and it cut down on mess in brooder. If you want you read my 1st yr here https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/wk-3.1328223/
I'm the 1st to admit I make mistakes, but the team here got me on the right track.

 

[R2elk]

They really dislike me touching them. They all scatter and panic a bit when I even reach in the change the food or water let alone touch one.. I try to hold them a little so maybe they get used to me but it doesn’t seem to work & I also don’t want to over handle them. Do you have any suggestions for how to get them more comfortable?

Put food in your hand. Lay your hand on the bedding with you arm as low as possible. Be patient and let them come to you. Don't move and don't try to catch them. If you are patient enough, they will come and eat from your hand. Some of them may even crawl up into your hand.

Once mine are a week old, I tend to cut short pieces of grass and drop it into the brooder. They quickly learn that it is a treat and come running as soon as the first pieces of grass hit the bedding.

 

[newb1rdmom]

Warning: Somewhat graphic pic? (Keets bum)

While I was soaking one’s feet in the coconut oil I noticed they had a bit of poo stuck to their bum so I got a qtip to oil it up and maybe get it off and I happened to notice it looked like a spot of feathers or whatever were missing so I flipped them over to get a better look and it looks like on one side of their bum there is a balding spot? Should I be concerned??