Raising Chicks on Wire.

[3riverschick]

Don't lay anything on the wire. The idea is the poop falls thru ,but more importantly, the chicks don't curl their toes underneath them when they sleep.
if you pad the wire, it defeats that purpose.
Best,
Karen

 

[Backyard Bob]

Thank you! I was wanting y'all's opinion on this!

 

[Avianman]

I don't think anyone is saying that wire will deform the birds. Wire is uncomfortable, which is easily evidenced by the fact that when given the option, they will stand on a padded surface instead, and when not given the option, they are seen standing on one foot or lying down more. BUT a slick surface, like newsprint, is terrible. They need traction to avoid splay, but something as simple as a high quality paper towel works fine. I use the blue "shop towels" from the auto parts store in my hatcher.

Personally, I don't consider it "cruel" to raise them on wire, but why make them uncomfortable? With the method I use, it doesn't save me any time to use wire, especially when the poop gets stuck in between and I have to scrub. My chickens are generally free range, but my higher end birds like my show serama are bred in pens, as record keeping is so important, and I'd rather see them stand on a softer surface all day.

In the end, it is preference, but I treat my chickens more toward pets than produce, and I understand that not everyone can, nor do they want to. I breed for show and fun, not for meat or eggs, so my outlook is just a little different - not better, just different!

 

[Brookliner]

My last chicks were raised on an inch of PDZ with DE mixed in. I used a broody hen and scooped the broody coop daily. The PDZ /DE combination was great for their feet and stability. There was no smell as the PDZ takes care of the ammonia. The hen taught them to dust bath and they all did well. It didn't seem any more dusty than the pine shavings I have used before. All you need to do is use a kitty litter scoop to clean out the poop. If the chicks eat it it won't hurt them as PDZ is a natural mineral.

 

[luckydux]

Well here I am up at midnight trying to resolve a picking issue and I happen across this thread.
I just built some new brooder pens with wire floors, 8'x3', and yesterday put 27 chicks into one of them. About an hour ago I noticed 3 of them were bloody. I've read that wire pens can promote picking and I gotta say that it seems true as of now...Never had a problem until now. Of course something else could be stressing them but I'm unsure currently.

Just wanted to throw out my recent situation

 

[my sunwolf]

Well here I am up at midnight trying to resolve a picking issue and I happen across this thread.
I just built some new brooder pens with wire floors, 8'x3', and yesterday put 27 chicks into one of them. About an hour ago I noticed 3 of them were bloody. I've read that wire pens can promote picking and I gotta say that it seems true as of now...Never had a problem until now. Of course something else could be stressing them but I'm unsure currently.

Just wanted to throw out my recent situation

I've seen this happen with others' chicks. I think it comes from the fact that scratching in deep litter is entertaining and distracting. If they're a little cramped but have litter to scratch in, they don't pick on each other. If they are a little cramped and have nothing to entertain themselves with, they start to feather pick as their only fun.

 

[frenchiegirl21]

I've seen this happen with others' chicks. I think it comes from the fact that scratching in deep litter is entertaining and distracting. If they're a little cramped but have litter to scratch in, they don't pick on each other. If they are a little cramped and have nothing to entertain themselves with, they start to feather pick as their only fun.

About an hour ago I noticed 3 of them were bloody. I've read that wire pens can promote picking and I gotta say that it seems true as of now...Never had a problem until now. Of course something else could be stressing them but I'm unsure currently.

To counter the picking this hatch, I put a pie tin of dirt from my chicken run in the brooder. This accomplishes three things: entertainment, chick-sized grit, and exposure to the world to help build immunity. Just an idea that I have found helps! Good luck with your chicks, luckydux!

 

[aggiemae]

I have a hard time believing that poop falls through builders cloth. It seems to me it would get caked up and attract flies.

In any case I personally won't put any animal I care about directly on wire for any reason probably a back lash from years of dealing with puppy mill dogs, but it's probably not as big a deal if the hens get out of the coop and on the ground for most of the day.

We have a few inches of stall dry on the bottom of the coop I clean it using a kitty litter scoop. Since all the hens sit on the same roost and the volcanic sand dries the poop quickly it takes about two-three minutes to clean every few morning.I can't immagine anything easier of cleaner. Best thing I never have any poopy foot tracks in the next box so the eggs are always clean. I do add a few inches of paper pellets in the winter because the sand can get pretty cold and by spring I have scoop most of it out.