Questions about keeping the Brooder clean

[txbioteacher]

I've got 26 chicks in a 4ft x 2ft cardboard box covered in compressed pine pellets under a layer of paper towels. I've been changing the paper towels about 2 times a day. Should I change them out more often? It seems like they're always pecking at each others poo.

Oh, and how long do I have to keep them on paper towels? They are 6 days old today. I've read different things from different sources. Some say a "couple of days," but that's rather vague.

Someone needs to write "Raising Baby Chicks -- A Definitive Guide to the First 9 Weeks"

Step by step instructions for the compulsive researcher... =P

 

[lux_interior]

I would take out the paper towels now, I have mine in pine shavings from day 1.... taking out the paper towels will also keeping them from pecking at poo, because it won't be right on the surface, it'll fall into the pellets

 

[txbioteacher]

Thank you... I've heard some people say as many as 10 days!! I have just read so much about impacted crops that it's got me freaked out.

 

[citrusdreams]

I usually switch to pine shaves or those cob pellets after three or so days. Yours are definitely old enough to make the switch

 

[ShaggysGirl]

Hi,
I stopped using paper towels after the third day. The wood shavings do keep a lot of the smell down. I also used two large totes. I'd take them out of one and put them in the one they used the day before. The one they used that day I'd add a little more shavings to any real poopy areas and let it air then then next day put them back in there. The daily switching of the brooder gave me a chance to hold and check out each chick too.

 

[onthespot]

I bed mine on a thin layer of bermuda hay covered by paper towels for "a few days" too. I start out feeding them by sprinkling a thin layer of medicated Start 'N Grow that I have pulverized in the blender to a finer size of crumbles. Once I am sure they are all eating well, I introduce the little six holed circular metal feeder that a mason jar screws into the top of... And once they are eating well out of that and any that fail to thrive for whatever reason are removed (culled) then I pull the paper away from the hay and they get to go nuts in their new environment. I then put a low ceramic dish under the mason six hole feeder to catch what they bill out. It is a one quart flat, circular ceramic feed dish you can get from pet stores or feed stores. That little ceramic dish will save you a LOT of $ from saving from wasted feed. Make sure all the babies are big enough to climb into the ceramic dish. If you have seramas or something else small, pile some of the bedding, whatever you use, around the dish so they can get in there and dig for goodies in the food dish! Congrats on your hatch and good luck, and POST PICS!!!

 

[txbioteacher]

Quote:
Wow! Thanks for such a detailed response. I know how tedious it must be to continually answer newbie questions. I promise that I do back read and search the message board before I post. I love the idea of the ceramic dish under the feeder!! I'm going to go remove the paper towels now.

Thanks to everyone else who responded as well. I very much appreciate the time you took to reply

I like the idea of having two brooders, because I have a hard time getting a detailed look at all 26 chickies without saying, "Didn't I already pick this one up?!"

Here's one of my Red Stars taken yesterday morning...

 

[jeannieo]

HOW ADORABLE!