wire in floor of brooder

[milliner]

Hello every one i was wondering if wire in the floor is a must for new baby quail to walk on to keep there legs from spreadin

 

[James the Bald]

It's not a must. What you don't want to do is use papertowels or newspaper. Those will cause Splay Legs. The best thing to use is the Rubbermaid shelf liner. It's non slip, and some brands are washable.
James

 

[quail325]

I used play sand in my brooder and it worked great. They have it at Home Depot for $2.50 for a 50 pound bag. I had the paper towels on top of the sand for the first three days and then took it out. I did of course change the paper towels twice a day for those first three days. I clean out the droppings with a reptile screen scoop now twice a day, super easy to clean.

 

[milliner]

Thanks for the info both good ideas i think i will try the shelf liner. Seems like it will b alittle easier to clean

 

[pkhunter]

I use the rubber shelf liner over my 1/2" by 1/2" wire. When they get 10 days old I take it out, by then their feet are big enough to walk on the wire with no problem.

 

[guru]

Ive used the shelf liner for 3 batches myself with no splayed legs at all. Ive also used the small wire but had problems first 4-5 days with them having whole legs fall through hole.

 

[milliner]

Ive got some 1/4 by 1/4" wire ina brooder ima put um in after about 10 days this is my first time hatchin button quail so its all new to me. They are due to hatch this comein monday so i hope it all goes well

 

[Quail Jailer]

Ive got some 1/4 by 1/4" wire ina brooder ima put um in after about 10 days this is my first time hatchin button quail so its all new to me. They are due to hatch this comein monday so i hope it all goes well

Been there done that, don't fasten the wire to the brooder real well, you'll be removing it to replace with 1/2" X 1/2".

Poop will turn 1/4" X 1/4" into thin plywood. It wont fall through.

 

[milliner]

Yeah i thought about tht will they b ok on 1/2 by 1/2" after 10 days and not fall threw? I cut the bottom outta tote and put a frame around the inside and attached my wire to it then just sit it on news papers

 

[cookiesdaddy]

My chicks are on day 10 and I hope to move them to the 2nd brooder (with 1/2 x 1/2 grid) today if I can get some time. Need to set up the heater properly. My first brooder has 1/4 x 1/4. It was helpful after I removed paper towel, but now the poop get too big. I "tested" one chick last night on 1/2 x 1/2 and I think it'll be OK.

Jailer I've been using paper towel and it seems OK. Paper towel does provide some good grip. It's easy to just roll up and throw away. Shell liner can be expensive. What problem have you had with paper towel?