What should I do?

[chicklover_3221]

My chicks are about a week old. Right now, we are keeping them in a kiddie pool (from Tractor Supply, where we got the chicks). We have some wood shavings in there, a food bowl, and a water bowl. My 2 Wyandotte chicks are tending to jump/fly from my hands (so I hold them very low to the ground) even when I am holding them very calmly. I suspect that this is because they are much bigger than my other chicks, so it's easier for them to wriggle out of my grasp. It scares me every time, though. My 3 Cinnamon Queen chicks don't really do this, but they do try to jump out of the kiddie pool. One of them (Betty Pearl) jumped onto the top (the edge) and I don't know what to do about this. All of the other chicks are trying to do the same thing. This is not good because we don't have a coop for them yet. What do I do? I don't want them jumping out and getting lost!! This is really stressing me out!

 

[chicklover_3221]

I really need some help!!

 

[Newclucker91]

Dog crate with chicken wire around d the edges to prevent escapees works well especially the ones with a plastic underpad.

 

[LizGio]

This didn't last long, switched to thi green one has a mesh zipper top.

 

[Saveria]

Can you make a cover that still allows air through? We did a simple wood frame with 1/2 inch hardware cloth tacked on to it that we could lift up and go back down.

You could potentially clip the tips of their wing feathers on one side (that helps inhibit flying), but I am not sure how long it takes them to grow back, and you want them to have those once they are outside.

Most breeds will do this. I had 6 week wyandottes that we flying over a 4 foot fence once. The wing clipping barely slowed them down. Luckily they stopped once they were adults.

Next year you can just plan a cover into the brooder setup, then you don't have to worry.

 

[chicklover_3221]

Dog crate with chicken wire around d the edges to prevent escapees works well especially the ones with a plastic underpad.

That is a great idea! Why didn't I think of that?! I have two dogs at home and the idea was like, right there!

 

[chicklover_3221]

This didn't last long, switched to thi green one has a mesh zipper top.

Where did you buy that?

 

[chicklover_3221]

Can you make a cover that still allows air through? We did a simple wood frame with 1/2 inch hardware cloth tacked on to it that we could lift up and go back down.

You could potentially clip the tips of their wing feathers on one side (that helps inhibit flying), but I am not sure how long it takes them to grow back, and you want them to have those once they are outside.

Most breeds will do this. I had 6 week wyandottes that we flying over a 4 foot fence once. The wing clipping barely slowed them down. Luckily they stopped once they were adults.

Next year you can just plan a cover into the brooder setup, then you don't have to worry.

Thank you! I may try this. My Wyandottes can fly really high right now so, I get you. Mine are only about a week old though.

 

[Saveria]

Thank you! I may try this. My Wyandottes can fly really high right now so, I get you. Mine are only about a week old though.

Crazy birdies

Good luck!

 

[LizGio]

Where did you buy that?

Incubator Warehouse Insta... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087YD9JKJ?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share