Question about flooring in brooder?

[chickiepie]

I just went 'curb shopping' as they call it and found someone throwing out a pretty good sized cage (hamsters? rabbits?). Since my chicks are quickly outgrowing their current digs I would like to use this for them, after giving it a good scrubbing. Here's the question...the bottom of the cage is wire grate, with a two inch deep tray below it. I was thinking of putting a shallow bin in there to fill with shavings for them to play and sleep in and the feeder and waterer on the wire grate to keep the mess down (a little, anyway). Will that type of floor be ok for them to walk on, or should I put down newspaper or something? Any suggestions are much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[FMAFarms]

Newspaper is never an ideal flooring for chicks. It's too slippery for young chicks and doesn't allow older chicks to practice scratching and digging, behaviors they need once they are out in the run. To be honest, I think you lucked out! I would just put some pine shavings ON the grate and leave the tray beneath it empty. This way, the droppings and mess fall through the wire grate into the tray and make cleaning their brooder much, much easier.

 

[chickiepie]

The problem is that the shavings will go right through. Maybe I could make a cardboard barrier around the bottom several inches to contain the shavings. I really do think I lucked out! I wanted to do a happy dance right then and there. As I was looking at it the scrap metal guy pulled up and was eying it up. I picked it up and put it right in my truck!! If I was a minute later I wouldn't have gotten it.

 

[Caliphe]

It sounds like the same thing I use for my chicks and the bottom grating just unhooks (it's time consuming to get it out). I took out the grating and left the plastic tray in and filled it with about three inches of shavings. Now it's perfect!

 

[Pele]

I've always raised my chicks on wire grating personally. As long as the holes in the grating arn't so wide that their little legs fall through, it's far far far more sanitary than having to sit in or walk around in their own waste (everyone can agree it's impossible to keep chicks from stepping in anything and everything). It also prevents spraddle, and will keep them from getting Cocci.

I just had to get over the idea they'd be uncomfortable, which was my natural reaction since I don't have tough feet with scales like chickens do

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