show me your dog crate baby brooders

[RhpsPython]

I set up my dog kennel (big enough for my Great Dane) for my six chicks I received from Meyer's.
Started out simple enough with a divider to keep half of the kennel cooler, but now we have ramps and platforms that I keep adding. I think they enjoy it

 

[KittieChick]

I'm seeing baby brooder a that have dishes of sand for the chicks to play in. Is there a minimum age for providing this? I'm wondering if they'll eat the sand and get impacted. The sand I have is very fine. Or maybe I should give them soil from my garden instead?

Thanks. Oh, they were hatched 6/25.

 

[funny farmer]

Love these! what great ideas. Beats my old cardboard box any day

 

[3riverschick]

I'm seeing baby brooder a that have dishes of sand for the chicks to play in. Is there a minimum age for providing this? I'm wondering if they'll eat the sand and get impacted. The sand I have is very fine. Or maybe I should give them soil from my garden instead?

Thanks. Oh, they were hatched 6/25.

Hi

,

I have read several opinions on the sand issue for chicks. Some say ok. Others that chicks should eat the largest size of grit they can. Still others that eating the sand as they grow larger can impact the crop. Others that when the bird is too big for sand, it just passes right thru the bird.
There is no basic consensus on the safety and efficacy of providing chicks with sand.
The grit industry says to feed certain sizes of grit at certain ages. You can read about it here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/891051/the-science-of-feeding-grit-to-poultry The referenced bibliography on grit is fascinating because it includes the abstract of each cite.
Point is, why mess with the sand at all when chick grit is so cheap? Just fill the dish with chick grit and let them play in it. Granite grit has no silica issues plus sharp edges to help them develop bigger, stronger, more healthy gizzards. Plus you know where the granite grit comes from. All Gran-I-Grit comes from the world's largest open air granite quarry in the USA. Where does the sand come from?
Best,
Karen

 

[KittieChick]

Thanks, Karen, very good points. I saw the sand as entertainment value first. I'll get granite grit for them this weekend.
BTW, we have good friends in Ligonier, and my husband was born and raised in Delmont, PA.

 Hi  ,

I have read several opinions on the sand issue for chicks. Some say ok. Others that chicks should eat the largest size of grit they can. Still others that eating the sand as they grow larger can impact the crop. Others that when the bird is too big for sand, it just passes right thru the bird.
There is no basic consensus on the safety and efficacy of providing chicks with sand.
 The grit industry says to feed certain sizes of grit at certain ages.  You can read about it here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/891051/the-science-of-feeding-grit-to-poultry
Point is, why mess with the sand at all when chick grit is so cheap? Just fill the dish with chick grit and let them play in it.  Granite grit has no silica issues plus  sharp edges to help them develop bigger, stronger, more healthy gizzards.  Plus you know where the granite grit comes from. All Gran-I-Grit comes from the world's largest open air granite quarry in the USA. Where does the sand come from?
 Best,
 Karen

 

[orinator]

This spring I used our Petco dog crate as a brooder. It worked great! The large size is about $110. If you don't bother attaching the top and bottom together you can just lift the top up whenever you need to. Good view of chicks, good circulation, cat-proof, easy to clean. Plus, Made in America.

 

[cowboyclayt]

Love this idea! I will defiantly do this! 5 of my chicks died of coccidiosis and cackle is sending me 4 more. I don't want to put them in with the others because they might get sick or the others might pick on them. This is the perfect solution!:yiipchick

 

[NJDrew]

Thank you to everyone for the tips and advice. Our new dog crate brooder we setup today.

 

[juderm]

My new free craigslist metal dog crate pickup. I've got 5 chicks growing up.
Welsummer, Amber Sex Link, Blue Sapphire and 2 Dominant Coppers. They are about 6 weeks old right now.