My escapees!

[folgerrd]

When I first got my chicks I put them in a little temporary brooder(eventually to become chick hospital) until I finished setting up the good one. While they were in the temporary brooder they ate and drank and pooped in peace. I put the in their bigger, better kept, beautiful brooder, guess what? They try to escape! They didn't at first, but it has been going on a few days where they try and dig or create holes or try to fly up. Well today I walked in to find this:

Yeah I know, bad pic quality. But the point is my younger little birds have outsmarted my big bully feather-eds in how to get out!
Anyway question, how do I stop this? I don't want to remodel the brooder because it is a play pen and they'll only be in it one-three more weeks.

 

[ailurophile23]

Looks like you need to put a "lid" on the brooder - maybe some netting of some sort? Good luck!

 

[folgerrd]

Thanks! I am worried about if there is netting them getting caught in it if it caves or if they fly up to it.

 

[ailurophile23]

What I am picturing is probably more of a fabric than a netting - something a little more closely woven so they cannot get tangled in it - then again, as long as the sides are mesh, you could always put a blanket or a sheet over the brooder - maybe tie it so it is tight and not sagging into the pen.

 

[folgerrd]

sounds good

 

[Chickenshark]

Get a screen (like the ones in your windows). And put it on your brooder.

 

[folgerrd]

Interesting, I think we have some old ones laying around that I could was and use. Thank you both for the ideas

 

[madi99]

i just had to put a screen over my brooder this morning as well. i was scared last night when one of my almost 2 week old chicks literally jumped up and nearly got out of the almost three foot tall cardboard box. the first thing i did this morning was go out to my garage and get screening i had lying around... its worked great so far!

 

[marzullol]

Great idea for screening, we have 1 week old chicks and they have lift, and thankfully not flight. Thinking we may have to move them into the coop and keep it closed with a light. We have our in a 110 gallon water tank, it is about a 1 1/2 feet tall.

 

[folgerrd]

My brooder is about three (and a bit) feet tall and they're still managing to get out, until I put the blanket, I would prefer to do screen, just having trouble finding one big enough.