Bedding

[Steergirl]

Has anyone used the pelleted bedding? I know it is gaining in popularity. I was wondering if anyone has used it for chicks/chickens. I know it is big enough to where chicks cant eat it (or is it

?), but I was also wondering about when they get larger since some foods are pelleted.

 

[CathyM]

Hmmm... good point... the feedstore is using them this year, but they of course try to sell the chicks before they get too big... Hope someone with experience can answer this.

 

[Steergirl]

Anyone?

 

[laboroflove]

I'm not sure about using it with chickens. I know whenever I put it in my horses stall I usually wet the first initial bedding a little just to soften it up (so they won't be laying on hard pellets). Maybe you can squirt some water on it to make it fluff some and then mix it around.?.? That way it isn't in complete pellet form. Like I said, I don't know about using it with chickens so don't take what I say to the bank so to speak. Good luck!

 

[Steergirl]

Bump!

 

[Kaneke]

just my experience

I had a leftover bag of "Good Mews" kitty litter, made of pelletized paper product

I tried it out as bedding in the cardboard brooder

only took three days and it smelled to high heaven with ammonia

(seven chicks, brooder 4 feet by 3)

the chicks didn't eat it ... but it didn't "dry out" their poo, as it was advertised to ...

I switched to sand ...

 

[Steergirl]

Quote:
Thanks for replying but the ones I am talking about are pelleted pine bedding, I use them for my horse and they are great! But I am worried about them being eaten by chicks/chickens.

 

[homesteadinmama]

Not sure if it is similar but I have used feline pine pellets (sold in the cat litter isle), but would NOT recommend them. They are hard to begin with and by the time it gets soft it gets wet and very stinky. Not too mention it is more $$. I don't think they'd eat it since it is just sawdust...

 

[katydidit]

I used pellets to start with, BEST decision ever! Not as much mess in the waterer, as in, I didn't have to change it out 4 times a day. I recently switched to pine shavings (when they were about 3 weeks)... and I HATE it. I wish I would have stayed with pellets, and I will switch back when the shavings run out! So much cleaner IMHO

 

[Steergirl]

What I am noticing is that people either hate them or love them. For me they have always worked out so I will be trying them!