Is Borax toxic for chicks?

[SamanthaBrooke]

Hi, I am looking into making a natural fire retardant for my brooder boxes, you mix borax with boiling water, cool then fill a spray bottle and spray, it's non permanent and non toxic for humans but need to know if it is safe to spay on my boxes before the chicks arrive, I am bervous about running the light while I'm away from home.

Thank you!!

 

[1muttsfan]

A spray like that will not retard a fire in a coop or brooder box - the lights are hot and there is too much flammable material present. Fix your lamp with two separate connections, ideally metal chain, and do not rely on the clamp alone.

 

[SamanthaBrooke]

Thank you for the advice!

 

[1muttsfan]

There are many of us who spend a lot of time worrying about that very thing!

 

[chickeroo2]

I am new to chickens.. but I owned white pigeons for a while... we always mixed borax into their bathwater. It helped with and sorts of pests on them and made them beautifully white. They always drink their bathwater as well... never had a problem with it making them sick. It is common practice in the pigeon world.. but I don't know if chicks would react differently.

 

[loma57]

What was the mixture you used to water your pigeons? Borax and water and in what ratio? Was this to help with parasites?

 

[realsis]

borax has boric acid in it and to be on the safe side I wouldn't use it. I do know it can burn like heck if got into your eyes. There are better ways to go about being safe IMHO. you can get a radiant heat brooder that can't cause fire if your worried about that. They are a whole lot less money to run than the heat lamp and can give you a piece of mind. NO ONE can get burned by them at all. The chicks use them like a mother hen and regulate there own temp with it. I know they make a 20 chick and 50 chick. They are called ecoglow by Brinsea. maybe. you might consider brooding with one so you won't have to worry about fire? Hope this helps. best wishes.