Bedding changes in brooder

[Agilityscots]

How often am I supposed to change the pine shavings in my brooder? I have five girls (almost one week old) and I'm changing it once a day. Should I be changing it more often? I'm changing food 1-2 times a day, and water 2+ times a day.

Amy

 

[Jsto]

I think it all comes down to what you personally feel is best. There are so many factors: how deep your shavings are, how big your brooder is, if your chicks stay in one place, etc. Change it when it *looks* like it needs to be changed.

In the particular brooder I had mine in, I could just do a full change every other day, cleaning out particularly soiled areas and adding in more shavings in between. Like I said, I think it differs for everyone.

 

[Agilityscots]

Thanks, Jsto. I just wanted to make sure that once a day was enough and that it wasn't too dirty. I keep the shavings about 2" deep. I don't want my little girls getting sick. They're a week old tomorrow and boy are they just zipping around that box like nobody's business!

Amy

 

[hensnchix]

I also clean my brooder once a day. (My five-week-old chix are on shredded paper, though, not shavings.) Sometimes, when they were younger, I'd do it twice a day, since they seemed to walk through their droppings and then track them all over the brooder. Now they seem a little neater...or maybe I"ve just gotten used to how messy they are!

Susan

 

[Agilityscots]

Thanks Susan...I think I will stick to once a day, then, unless I see an unusually high amount of poop!! LOL

Amy