Opinions... Do you brood on wire or shavings?

[Ridgerunner]

Quote:
I want to emphasize what Oceanseve said. Chicks raised on wire do not develop the immunity from cocci that they need. From reading from various university/extension agent sites, I think the first week is most important.

The coccidiosis protazoa live in the digestive tract. Once it is passed through the systen in the droppings, it needs to mature for a day or two before it is then consumed by the other chicks, who will then develop an immunity to it. As long as the cocci does not get too concentrated, like it would in a dirty brooder, the cocci usually does not harm the chick. When it gets too concentrated, it can kill. And watch your brooder-raised chicks when they first join your flock for signs of cocci. They may be exposed to certain strains from the flock they were not exposed to in the brooder.

Chicks raised by mama with the flock rarely have problems with cocci as they are exposed to it from birth and develop strong immunities.

 

[the_great_snag]

Quote:
Just a comment. You mention cedar shavings. I've read on a couple hatchery websites never to put birds on cedar. I think the natural oils in it are toxic to birds.

 

[swampducks]

The pecking and the cocci thing is interesting. I got an ancient 3 tier brooder from my FIL with wire floors and slide out trays to dump the feces. I remember him having trouble with pecking though not anything about losing chicks later.

However, I think I'll play it safe and put paper towels on top of the wire for the first week or so with chopped straw (we use a shredder machine for chopping) to allow them to get that cocci immunity.

I am getting 10 cornish and 10 slws though so I think it may not be as important for the cornish as they aren't going to be around long. I definietley do not want to risk losing my slws though!

 

[KYBOY]

If you use 1/4" checked wire there is plenty enough manure that stays on the wire

..It works well for me, I havent lost a chick raised like this in a least two years I know and we raise more than the average joe..

 

[mksimith2]

Quote:
stays on the wire !!!

 

[cmom]

I have raised all of my chicks in this wire brooder. There are catch trays under the brooder with shavings in it. Also a tray in the brooder with pine shavings in it for the chicks to scratch, peck in and sleep in. The water and feed stays clean. I have never had any problems with their feet going through the wire and they grow so fast.

 

[ginasmarans]

For the first couple of weeks, I brood in a large rubbermate tote. I don't use shvings at all,they're too messy. I line the bottom with newspaper and cover it with paper shop towels(the blue kind at Wal-Mart). The chicks do well, shavings don't get in the food or water and to clean up, I just roll the paper up and toss it. I have a manufactured brooder for when they get bigger. It has really small hardware wire with a tray under it to catch the droppings. I line the tray with a cut up feed bag to make clean up easier.