Bedding and cleaning

[MightyMama]

Chicks are almost 2 weeks. I've been using paper towels so I can easily remove all the waste, but in the last two days the chicks (17 of them in a storage tub) have started to explode with poop (while also going through about twice as much water and food). I think it's time to switch to bedding, but it kind of grosses me out not to remove the poop as often as I am with the paper towels...how often do people completely change out the bedding? or is it more about adding to it as it gets gross on the top?

Soon they will be going into a brooder in the basement, but I was hoping to make it to 3 -4 weeks because they are getting more interaction where they are, and it's considerably warmer where they are currently at. Plus, I can tell immediately when they need something because they get really cheap-cheapy when their needs are not being met.

 

[17 chickens]

I have 90 chicks about a week old in totes and a dog crate, I clean mine once a day and give them new clean shavings so they don't lay in poop.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

Past the first day, once they know food, paper towels aren't good for their legs. They need a softer surface.

Kiln dried pine shavings will be deodorant and much cleaner and dryer. You want to buy them in big bales. One bale will last many cleanings. I use them 3-4 inches deep, they keep them stirred so they aren't laying in poop if they are deep. Chicks are pretty dry as long as their water is elevated.

Also, how big is your tote? I have a huge one and my recent 15 outgrew it quickly. Went to an appliance box.

 

[nminusyplusm]

I planned from the start to do deep bedding-- never cleaned it out, just added more pine shavings on top when needed, and tossed all the shavings into the run to compost when I moved the chicks outside at 4 weeks.

It also helps to get them used to nipple waterers asap, keeping things nice and dry. Mine took their first drinks from a nipple waterer made from a yogurt container hung over a slightly raised feed and water station platform made from hardware cloth and 2x4s and never even met a dish of water until I made them a wading pool for summer.

Added bonus: It was kind of hilarious watching them navigate water not coming from a nipple for the first time. I will definitely film that with my next batch of chicks.

 

[ChickNanny13]

I use a plastic tote with potty pads & MHP in the house for the first week. Then they move out to the brooder in the patio. MHP moves out with them, use shavings/PDZ for the floor & keep adding/mixing as need. I do use Horizontal Nipples when they're about 8 days old, love it = no more spilled nor dirty water! I also ferment feed so it really cuts down on the amount of poop & it don't stink (expect the cecal), no waste with feed scratched all over the place.

Chicks grow super fast, unless you have more plastic bins, Ruralhideaway's appliance box idea works great but they'll out grow that too.

 

[nminusyplusm]

Chicks grow super fast, unless you have more plastic bins, Ruralhideaway's appliance box idea works great but they'll out grow that too.

So true! I only had 7 and I screwed old doors together on the floor of my art studio and lined the whole thing with heavy duty plastic drop cloths. An old screen door was the hinged lid.

It was 7'x 3', MHP on one side, food and waterer on the other and by the end of 4 weeks they seemed like they needed more room plus they were flying out to greet me every time I opened it to visit and give them treats.

Luckily at that point the coop was built and ready for them. Basically just moved the contents of the brooder to the coop even though they were pretty much done using the MHP and they'd switched to sleeping in a pile in a corner.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

So true! I only had 7 and I screwed old doors together on the floor of my art studio and lined the whole thing with heavy duty plastic drop cloths. An old screen door was the hinged lid.

It was 7'x 3', MHP on one side, food and waterer on the other and by the end of 4 weeks they seemed like they needed more room plus they were flying out to greet me every time I opened it to visit and give them treats.

Luckily at that point the coop was built and ready for them. Basically just moved the contents of the brooder to the coop even though they were pretty much done using the MHP and they'd switched to sleeping in a pile in a corner.

That sounds like a very inventive and cool brooder!

 

[ChickNanny13]

Never thought of using doors, great idea. Love that MHP & water nipples!

 

[nminusyplusm]

That sounds like a very inventive and cool brooder!

Thanks! Yeah, it worked really well and goes together and breaks down easily. Still have the doors for future brooding.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

New summer project. Not that I'm planning on more chicks of course.