Playing roost

[Celticdragonfly]

Tonight I got to "play roost" while my daughter @Purple Rose worked VERY hard - opening the new package of bedding that was way bigger than what she'd dealt with before, getting the bedding in the brooder box totally cleaned out and changed, putting the water back in on top of a platform of 3 little flat jam jars ducttaped together (to try to keep bedding OUT of their water better), refreshing their food, and adding in a little bowl of chick grit.

Left to right
Cera (easteregger) Tyra (australorp) Steggie (red sex link) and Tiny Terri (? white cochin?)

Tyra's catching up a bit on Cera's head start. Terri is starting to have more feathers, still behind and still small, but has the most visible growing comb.

 

[azygous]

Isn't it a trip? Chicks are the ultimate entertainment. It's fun being a chick jungle gym, but around eight weeks, those little toes suddenly develop cactus sharp toe nails, and they'll be having much more fun than you.

 

[Celticdragonfly]

Isn't it a trip? Chicks are the ultimate entertainment. It's fun being a chick jungle gym, but around eight weeks, those little toes suddenly develop cactus sharp toe nails, and they'll be having much more fun than you.

Oh, they're developing their talons already. Last time I was doing this, I was mostly keeping them in a box I was holding - but Cera was perching on the box flap on the far side, and decided to launch herself into flight to my shoulder. But her aim is iffy, and she basically landed on my cheek and then slid down to the shoulder - and drew first blood. But no great harm done. We did wash it carefully after chick time was done.

 

[so lucky]

Regarding the platform for the waterer: I currently have the chick waterer (plastic tray and pint jar combo) set on a couple of 2"x4" wood scraps. They are about 6" long, and so it makes a platform of about 6" or 7" square.

 

[trumpeting_angel]

I have to increase the height of my platform. It’s only a little over an inch high, and I keep pushing the shavings away from it, but it’s a mess minutes afterward!

 

[azygous]

This problem is easily solved. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-hang-a-chick-water-bottle.957712/ Continue reading the thread and it tells how to center the hanger on the bottle so it woun't tip the water out. All you need is a little wire and a net bag garlic and clementine oranges come in.

 

[trumpeting_angel]

Thanks! My waterer is heavier because I’m using a glass bottle. But I’ll test it out.

 

[azygous]

Thanks! My waterer is heavier because I’m using a glass bottle. But I’ll test it out.

You better believe I tested this out over the sink before I hung a bottle in the brooder! It's important to use wire and tighten it down securely around the base and knot at the hanging end. I don't recommend string because it can stretch when it gets wet.