Search results for query: *

Welcome to BYC. What kind of lime? Hopefully, not hydrated lime. I've never put lime inside my coops/barn, not even agricultural lime, only in a pen when I immediately till it into the ground. So, can't recommend it inside the coop at all.

Well, I see this discussion is still in play. Years later, I still use plain dry pine shavings as bedding, nothing else except for hens who are crippled with arthritis-in winter, I add some hay to the shavings for them to be warmer since they cannot roost and sleep on the floor. I do not use...

You can use paper towels as long as you like. For me, it's way too expensive and time consuming as well as too smelly. I have a really good sense of smell, way more sensitive than my husband's (as I think most women do, to tell the truth ). I smell the poop when I use paper towels. When I use...

I want to be clear that I have no problem with anyone spending their money on other bedding for chickens if they want to go that way. It's entirely up to you. I'm betting that few folks would even have backyard chickens if they all had to spring for aspen bedding, considering the lack of...

Hehehe, your secret is safe with me and the 130K members of BYC!

Which is great...for maybe up to a week. Afterward, the smell will get to you with paper towels as the only bedding. But, yes, you can do paper towels for a couple of days till they recognize what their food is, if it makes you feel better. They grow so stinking fast (and the stinking part is...

You will never lose a chicken from using good dry pine shavings. You won't. You just won't. Chickens are not rodents, are not mammals, can't go by advice for those animals. Animal professionals, you say-wonder what animal professional who has actually raised chickens has ever had one verifiably...

Like a new mother, you'll overthink everything with the first batch. As you learn and grown and get more actual experience, you'll relax your grip somewhat. Hundreds of chicks have grown up here. Haven't lost one to cocci. No bird has ever had a contagious respiratory illness. I started in the...

Even a brooder should have ventilation, though, remember. A brooder shouldn't be a closed up, confined space, not enough so that fumes overtake the chicks. Even small chicks need ventilation (not drafts, ventilation up over their heads). This is one of the main causes of issues with chickens...

Sleepy Owl, have you ever had chickens or are you just going by what someone said in a book? Just wondering. No one using good quality dry pine shavings should ever have a problem. If you don't ventilate the area properly, you will have issues with ANYTHING, including aspen and hay, but...

Adding that I even use pine shavings for chicks, after they have found the food and water and are all eating and drinking on the paper towels. I then put shavings in the brooder, which are warmer for them to sleep in. Never had one single issue from that. You always want to avoid any that...

Pine is fine if it's dry, as in packaged kiln dried shavings. Have used it for over 6 years with no issues. It's aromatic cedar that can cause issues. ANY shavings that are super dusty can be a problem.