Sanitary issues with shavings

[LI chickie]

I converted a xlarge dog crate into my brooder for my 15 day old chicks. There is plastic on the sides but a lot gets out of the bottom. They've only been in it since Saturday afternoon and it's quite dirty already. I'm going to clean it out tonight but what else can I do or use to make it cleaner. I didn't want to use wire but that seems to be the easiest way to keep it clean.

 

[SunkenRoadFarms]

I converted a xlarge dog crate into my brooder for my 15 day old chicks. There is plastic on the sides but a lot gets out of the bottom. They've only been in it since Saturday afternoon and it's quite dirty already. I'm going to clean it out tonight but what else can I do or use to make it cleaner. I didn't want to use wire but that seems to be the easiest way to keep it clean.

I was in the same boat as you a few weeks ago. Finally I zip tied feed bags all around the inside perimeter, lapping an 8 inch skirt on top the bottom tray. Over that I laid the pine shavings. I still had to use a piece of cardboard at the gate, but it worked pretty well.

 

[LI chickie]

I put the sheets of plastic on the inside of the crate so I would have to go outside and under the tray to tie the feed bags. I have bags that would work. Not a bad idea I may try that in the morning.