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Raising Chicks On Wire

Jennifer Austin
26 January 2006
I have raised some on wire and found a few problems with it.
The wire has to be large to allow stool to fall through, then it is uncomfy for their feet. They have trouble and will catch toenails on the wire. If the wire is small then they will walk in the stool and stay dirty.
Waters get knocked around easily, spilling all over. It falls through the wire and does not make a mess but has to be refilled frequently. If feed gets knocked over it will fall through the wire and they cannot get to it.
If the wire cage is outside and you are housing chicks all of the heat goes out of the bottom of the cage and the chicks don't stay as warm.
I have raised chicks in wire cages but I usually lined the bottom with feed bags, paper towels, or newspaper to keep them from having problems with the wire bottom. With young chicks I would use something around the sides to keep wind off and heat in.

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