[funkyfish]

I have 6x 3 week old chicks. For the first week just had them on kitchen roll and changed daily. Then newspaper and some shavings. Now they have started eating the shavings and ripping up the news paper and eatin it. They have adlib chick crumbs and have added some green bits like parsley and chopped grass and cabbage to peck at.

Any ideas what I can keep them on? Need to clean them out every day as they are so messy!

[jaykay]

I keep mine on shavings, with their crumbs in a bowl, on a piece of wood or plastic. I'd put the greens in a different bowl too, so that they're not eating amongst the shavings.

They are messy - but not as bad as ducklings 

[Bangbang]

I was going to complain about your duckling reference - but when I think
back to when OH had them in the caravan, your right - horrible, smelly, and noisy
and bathed in the dogs bowl

I still love em though. 

[in the hills]

Yes, we do same as jaykay.

As they get older they seem to make a terrible mess and are quite difficult to keep clean, but then I am a bit fussy.
Chick crumbs spead everywhere. Usually cant wait for mine to get out on the grass.

[Skirza]

I find that putting crumbs in a feeder just off the floor helps. They still jump into it but it seems to stop a lot of the mess.

[in the hills]

Yes, good point ... it helps a bit. Feeders and drinkers, we put on blocks of wood.

[funkyfish]

Hi thanks guys! Yes ducks are waaaay worse! Have the brooder in my livin room- no chance I will have duckings there- they stink!!

Need my duck to go broody... So much easier!

Not sure when to take of heat? They have wing and tail feathers, but when all feathered up and if weather ok I can put them outside? This is our first incy raised chicks- done loads under a broody, god is it easier!
Although I'm loving watching them grow up! (as are the cats- it's like cat tv!).

Can't wait to see what they turn out like as are Indian game crosses, they look light brown and barred at the mo- hens were L.S and C.black tail ( a bit of an experiment!).

[Mammyshaz]

Cannot help with advice, reading with interest and soak up any advice to rear a few  ourselves next year.

Where's the photos

[Sylvia]

Funkyfish, it's a bit like hardening off seedlings, put them out on a fine day, shielding the run from any cold breeze, leave them out as long as they seem happy and are not huddling together. Turn off the inside lamp though, when you bring them back in and they'll soon harden off

[PetiteGalette]

Our hatchlings are put in a hamster cage under a heatlamp with sand as bedding.
Keeps the smell down; can be easily cleaned off (top layer); has 'grippability' so no splayed legs; absorbs moisture; not harmful if eaten; is used as a dustbath; can be kicked about; and keeps their feet clean.
Make sure you have the heatlamp on the sand to dry it/warm it up at least 2hours before putting the hatchlings in.
When cleaned out the sand gets thrown over the veggie plot.

[in the hills]

Yes, our first ever hatches were in the incy but we now use broodies whenever we can.

Start by raising the heat lamp slowly, watching their reaction (for huddling etc.). Then turn it off for a couple of hours on a day which is fairly warm. Extend the period until the light is off all day but on at night. Next leave it off during the night. Then put chicks outdoors for an hour or two when warmish and extend this period until they are out full time. By 6 weeks, they should be feathered and hardy.

It is a gradual thing .... no mum to cuddle under. I do it slowly but know someone who turns lamp off when they are 2 weeks old and they are out in arks on the lawn when not much older. Suppose it depends on the weather. Quite cold where I am still so I wouldnt rush them out.

Good luck 

[artscott]

Ours are on thick layer of shavings, I change them weekly, the brood lamp seems to keep shavings dry although they make a mess with crumbs and water.
Out brooder is a large plastic storage box with a mesh lid, I fixed the heat lamp height but connected it to a dimmer switch so I back off the switch slightly every couple of day.  At thee weeks they go in the shed in a larger run made of planks, again on shavings with another heat dimmed lamp.  5- 6 weeks or so should be off heat completely.
Listen to them, they will tell you if you are hurrying the process.  Our brooder is in the kitchen and the other night we couldn’t hear the TV for them squawking.  It turns out I had unplugged the brooder by mistake while making some toast and they were cold.  Plugged them back in and they were all happy, if a little indignant at my mistake.

[in the hills]

 

[chrismahon]

We do the same as PetiteGalette. From about 5 days to 5 weeks our chicks are on kiln dried sand. I run it through a flour seive to get rid of the poos and when it stinks it gets scattered on the lawn.

Tried Aubiose once and it cut their little feet to pieces!

[funkyfish]

Thanks for the ideas! Everyone here is always so helpful. I will look into the sand idea. Am looking for bigger container or them as they keep out growing everything!

Will wait a bit longer to put them out as we don't live close by to our field so can't ferry them back quickly if they get cold.

Thanks again!