Alternative to pine shavings

[Brie6895]

Will beach sand work? I will probably get the sweet PZD but I live right next to the beach.

 

[lulu420]

I am also going to be housing my 3 chickens in a large dog cage (my coop is a modified dog cage) and sand sounds like a good idea. I've also heard that you can use kitty litter. The kitty litter we use for our cats is called Sweat Scoop. It's made from wheat, so is biodegradable, all natural and clay/chemical free, so I'm thinking about using it. My only hesitation is that I'm afraid the chickens might eat the litter. Is that a problem anyone has experienced with their sand?

 

[Brie6895]

I would like to know the answer to that too.

 

[DuluthHomestead]

I'm pretty sure my chicks would eat Swheat Scoop (heck, my CAT ate Swheat Scoop). And most other cat litters have too many fragrances/chemicals in them to use for chick bedding. My chicks do eat sand, but that's okay because it serves as grit. I don't know about beach sand, but I think it would have to be rinsed very thoroughly to remove any salt residue.

 

[RedheadErin]

I did an experiment in MIcrobiology where we cultured all diferent kinds of soils, and beach sand was the most disgusting of any of them! Unless you have a REEEAAALLLYYYY pristine beach, I wouldn't use it.

I used old bath towels in my brooder last year. I just changed them once or twice a day, and tossed the dirties in the wash.

 

[LTygress]

Personally, I use shredded paper. But I don't bother shredding it up myself! I either collect it from work, or my paper shredder here at home. The one here at home is USUALLY enough to fill up the brooder. It's free. And it actually reduces the amount of waste that I have, because after being used in the chick brooder, it gets tilled into the garden I have. The paper decomposes quickly in it, and the chicken poop and leftover feed fertilizes it.

As for beach sand, I want to change up the recommendation a slight bit. I would recommend using it when they are a little older (maybe 6-8 weeks). I say that because the fact that it has a lot of micro-organisms can actually be HELPFUL in building their immune systems against so many germs that can be found in damp conditions like that. Of course when they are young and unable to even keep themselves warm, their immune system is already working overtime to learn how to deal with "every day" germs.

That's one reason that germ-o-phobes always boggle my mind. Sure, no one wants to get sick. But if you're young and healthy, exposing yourself to these germs is BETTER, because you build an immunity to them before you become old and frail with a huge list of other health problems.

 

[graciesmum]

The problem with beach sand is it has alot of salt wich is bad, also it has sand worms, not good, I use builders sand and I love it

 

[Brie6895]

I did an experiment in MIcrobiology where we cultured all diferent kinds of soils, and beach sand was the most disgusting of any of them!  Unless you have a REEEAAALLLYYYY pristine beach, I wouldn't use it.

I used old bath towels in my brooder last year.  I just changed them once or twice a day, and tossed the dirties in the wash. 

thank you! And excuse me if this is silly. But did you just throw the towels as the were I'n the washer without problems or did you knock off the droppings first?

 

[Brie6895]

Personally, I use shredded paper. But I don't bother shredding it up myself! I either collect it from work, or my paper shredder here at home. The one here at home is USUALLY enough to fill up the brooder. It's free. And it actually reduces the amount of waste that I have, because after being used in the chick brooder, it gets tilled into the garden I have. The paper decomposes quickly in it, and the chicken poop and leftover feed fertilizes it.


As for beach sand, I want to change up the recommendation a slight bit. I would recommend using it when they are a little older (maybe 6-8 weeks). I say that because the fact that it has a lot of micro-organisms can actually be HELPFUL in building their immune systems against so many germs that can be found in damp conditions like that. Of course when they are young and unable to even keep themselves warm, their immune system is already working overtime to learn how to deal with "every day" germs.


That's one reason that germ-o-phobes always boggle my mind. Sure, no one wants to get sick. But if you're young and healthy, exposing yourself to these germs is BETTER, because you build an immunity to them before you become old and frail with a huge list of other health problems.

The problem with beach sand is it has alot of salt wich is bad, also it has sand worms, not good, I use builders sand and I love it

. Thanks guys! I wont be using any beach sand for sure. I would try the paper shredder but I don't have enough paper ever to shred! Might look into builders sand or sweet pzd

 

[fiddlebanshee]

I second the sweet pdz. I have this in my brooder as the sole bedding and I love it. Easy to clean, no odors and the chicks love dustbathing in it.