Ideas for temporary "containers" for chicks? (for transport/cleaning)

[lanimilbus]

I've run into this problem a few times now...when I need to clean out the brooder I have to move all the chicks elsewhere until the process is complete, but I've had a hard time finding something to put them in that they can't escape from, that provides air, and that's big enough for them to stay in for an hour so. At first I was using a laundry basket with paper towels on the bottom and a screen over the top but at 1 month old they're too big for that now. The bantams are okay to deal with but the Easter Eggers are becoming enormous and will fly 6 feet up in the air whenever given the chance. I have some spare cardboard boxes but again, fitting all the chicks in there is a challenge. The biggest boxes are tall, but still not very wide at the bottom. What I've been doing recently is dividing them up into four or five different cardboard boxes so that there's enough space but that's very time consuming and it would be a lot easier to just have them all in one place.

So does anyone have any ideas for what else I could do?

P.S. I don't have a dog crate unfortunately, otherwise I'd use it
P.P.S. Some way to fence them in outside in the grass would be great...problem is, the little ones get through very small cracks/holes and the big ones fly over most anything that's not completely covered.

 

[atimme]

One of those big plastic totes? You could try making a box-like structure from wood and covering it with chicken wire or hardware cloth as a mini run.

 

[acid_chipmunk]

We use large totes with holes cut out for transport and when we are cleaning the booder. Works great! Cleans easily with bleach and water.

 

[TcherDawn]

I put newspaper down in our bathroom and put the chicks in there with my two boys sitting on the floor. The chicks crawled all over them and had a ball. My boys loved it and the chicks got some playtime outside the brooder. When I put the chicks back and removed the papers, I used my Wetjet to mop the floor.
If you do decide to buy a dog crate, it makes a great isolation area for an injured bird to recover. An injury can happen suddenly and having one on hand was a Godsend to us. And they fold down flat when not in use. (just in case you needed a few excuses to buy more "things" for your chicks. hee hee.)

 

[mommyofthreewithchicks]

What I use are dog crates or totes. Totes have worked the best because I prefer to clean them than the dog crate. I have also used totes for a brooder as well.

 

[ducks4you]

Next time you see one for sale, buy a portable rabbit cage, that breaks down. They are really safe for chicks, and if you buy one with a plastic, removable bottom, you can make it chick-safe (so they don't slip walking on it) simply by putting a bath towel on the plastic. They are very airy, birds cannot escape, but you can put a towel or blanket around them if you're concerned about a draft.
My rabbit cages have raised two batches of chicks.

 

[1_FnkyFrm]

Cat or dog trasporter is what I use works great....

 

[nanawendy]

I use totes as well, They all use the same size lid... I ready the empty one with all the fixings. Then transfer the babies, put the lid on and walaaaaa. Then I take the used tote outside and dump the shavings into the pile we use for garden stuff, clean the tote well and it's ready for the next change. At one point this spring I had 4 brooders going. Just rotated the bins except the largest, that is a whole different story. Good luck

 

[trishamonks]

hi i apologise for jumping in on this thread i just wanted to say i use a travel cot for holding mine when cleaning out the coop and runs its too high for them to jump out of and wide enough for all 18 of my 8 week lod chicks

oh and for transporting them i use a large tub the ones with the lid with and a baby blanket in one corner for them to snuggle up on