How many weeks until they can NOT escape wire dog crate?

[AmeliaBedelia]

I want to use an xl wire dog crate to introduce our chicks to the flock/give them outdoor play time, but wasn't sure how old they need to be before they can NOT squeeze through the bars of the crate. Saw an old post on here where a lady's chick went MIA after sneaking through the bars.

I was going to remove the bottom tray so they could access the dirt and grass, and was hoping to avoid needing to add cardboard or wire to the sides. Cardboard wouldn't help with the whole "seeing each other" thing, and chicken wire would be sharp at the edges, and I'm worried someone could get cut.

We do have a large clear plastic tub I could use, but it's smaller and wouldn't allow them to play in the grass.

 

[Chickensandhorsesforlife]

I used that from day 1 with a thing called a "chick corral" that was from tractor supply around the edges. It was red and had a plastic-cardboard look/texture

 

[Chickensandhorsesforlife]

I just saw the part where you said you need them to see out. use industrial -strength plastic around the edges. they can see through that with insulation and protection

 

[briannereese]

To be safe I would say 4-5 weeks, and watch them. We used to set up a dog x-pen outside for chicks when the weather is nice! But of course watch them closely!

 

[Sally PB]

I used an extra large dog crate and put sheets of cardboard around the perimeter. That helped contain the mess too. It doesn't have to go all the way up. A foot or so would work. That helped block drafts down by the floor where they were too.

 

[rosemarythyme]

How big are the holes in question?

You could reinforce with hardware cloth or bird netting (stretched and attached tightly to prevent tangling). I just use chicken wire though, never had an issue with a bird getting into the pointy bits.

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

Depends on breed, Silkies could squeeze through at 6 weeks still... You could use transparent plastic sheet like greenhouse PU, polyurethane . That way they can see each other, and also be protected from cold winds. HC like @rosemarythyme would work great too if cold winds are not a problem.

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

How big are the holes in question?

You could reinforce with hardware cloth or bird netting (stretched and attached tightly to prevent tangling). I just use chicken wire though, never had an issue with a bird getting into the pointy bits.

View attachment 2541778

I have had a chick get stuck in pointy bits but rectified that situation by turning the pointy bits outwards. The HC works well, at the moment I have 2 chicks in their own coop but bent up the wire at the bottom so chicks (but not the larger chickens) can get out to forage with others and back in if needed for safety and own food and water.

 

[Ebony Rose]

I incubate and raise baby quail frequently. I totally understand the issue as quail chicks are born about the size of a U.S. Nickel, can escape through tiny spaces, and 'invent' ways to die within days of birth. I brood my quail in a wire dog kennel that I have wrapped with 1/2" hardware cloth. I attached this mesh with short zip ties, and cut the free end so that it's not a hazard to curious eyes. It's as permanent as you need it to be, and readily removable should you ever wish to be rid of it.
Letting your chicks enjoy the dirt and grass is wonderful, but take note that when their 'boots' hit the ground, they will be exposed for the first time in their lives to cocci. This is a one-celled parasite with different variants that lives in every square inch of the world. Your chicks will develop a resistance to them, but that resistance takes time. This opportunistic parasite preys on the young, the old, and the otherwise sick or stressed birds in your flock. I recommend that one week prior to, and the first week while your little ones are enjoying the grass between their toes that you treat all of their water sources with amprolium (generic name), aka Corid (one of the major brand names). This medication will not harm your flock in any way, but could easily save their lives. A sick chick is often on death's door by the time you realize they're sick. The medication mimics the food supply that cocci ingest while sucking on the intestinal lining of your birds, B-Vitamins. Do not offer a B-vitamin supplementation while offering amprolium, but DO offer it after the full course of treatment is complete.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I have had a chick get stuck in pointy bits but rectified that situation by turning the pointy bits outwards. The HC works well, at the moment I have 2 chicks in their own coop but bent up the wire at the bottom so chicks (but not the larger chickens) can get out to forage with others and back in if needed for safety and own food and water.

Yeah I don't doubt chicks could get caught in any points, but I usually try to place mine in a back corner (and then pull it taut against the brooder) to minimize the chances of them coming into contact with it. Plus it only takes a few minutes with pliers to bend down/back/out of the way any obvious bits sticking out.

Chicken wire can be dangerous around chicks in general as they can get their heads stuck in it due to size of openings, so I've been pushing more towards trying to get past the chicken wire stage fast so I can remove it entirely, and then rely on panic openings in front of the brooder to give the chicks a safe chick-only zone (there's about a 2" gap behind the brick on either side):