enigmachick
Chirping
So I was all set to do my (raised bed) run and coop floor out of sand, but using river sand in the brooder WAY disillusioned me with it (awful, every chick's feet matted up with poop, scooping it out 4-5 times a day, COLD even in a warm house). However, when I put some aspen shavings over the sand it felt like the clouds parted! The chicks are so interested in digging themselves bathing holes through the shavings to the sand that they are constantly moving the shavings, covering old holes to dig new ones, the smell is lovely and the poops seem to be getting turned under and drying out, I went to replace the shavings after about a day and almost all of it was fresh so now I'm just adding a thin layer daily for a few days before replacing. The room the chicks are in has no poop odor any more and their feet are beautifully clean (except one who picked up some poop from a sandy portion, lol).
Anyway, what I'm wondering is, does anyone use this sort of method for a run/coop? In my mind you get the benefit of the birds constantly turning the bedding, the drainage of sand and the dust bath ability but without the miserable poopy feet and constant scooping, plus gives the birds something to do scratching through all the shavings? Just a thought, super curious what ya'll think since I haven't filled the run with anything yet! All I know is the brooders went from a miserable mess to a delightful experience, it feels like the chicks don't even poop anymore . I've never had a run or adult birds so I'm all ears! (Also my chicks are quail but I felt the practical difference wouldn't matter in this case).
Anyway, what I'm wondering is, does anyone use this sort of method for a run/coop? In my mind you get the benefit of the birds constantly turning the bedding, the drainage of sand and the dust bath ability but without the miserable poopy feet and constant scooping, plus gives the birds something to do scratching through all the shavings? Just a thought, super curious what ya'll think since I haven't filled the run with anything yet! All I know is the brooders went from a miserable mess to a delightful experience, it feels like the chicks don't even poop anymore . I've never had a run or adult birds so I'm all ears! (Also my chicks are quail but I felt the practical difference wouldn't matter in this case).
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