Best brooder floor for baby chicks?

[greenkjb]

Just wondering...what do you all use for the chicks to walk on in the brooder. I started out with pine shavings, but it keeps getting in the water. Now I am using newspaper with paper towels on top, but after only a few hours it is filthy. Any other suggestions?
Thanks!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Pine shavings with paper towels on top for the first couple of days is what I use.

You can raise your waterer up on bricks, and they will hop on up. It helps with keeping the shavings out.

 

[Player Hater]

i had the same problem

i started them in a small brooder with some old towels when they were little chicks

then i tried paper bedding from the feed store, but they started eating the paper and getting it in their feeder and drinker(to the point of rendering them both useless), so i went back to towels immediately

now i have them in a big brooder made from a kiddy pool and chicken wire while i work on the coop/run, with old sheets and towels in it

it's a pain because i have to change it very frequently, but they will be living outside soon so it's working out i guess


some people elevate the food and water on bricks, or use water nipples or other feeding-drinking systems

browse the forums and use the search box and you'll find lots of pictures and discussion on the subject of bedding

 

[tec27]

Is there a problem with them being in the water? I usually just let the chickens do whatever they want. If they want to throw pine shavings in their water i let them. Screw it. You have to change the water every day or so anyway so i just clean it out then.

 

[CaliBlueChicken]

Quote:
This is also what I do, I change out the paper towels often and the pine shavings as needed.

 

[Chicken.Lytle]

I put sand in my brooder . Works so well that I am going to convert my coops and run to sand as well (but not all at once).

 

[Player Hater]

yeah i hear great things about sand; if i ever get more chicks i'm trying it

 

[Roslyn]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=508959 ? I had the same problem. Don't know if this will help you or not. Good luck with your chicks!<3

 

[Fred's Hens]

Tried it all, and frankly, I'm back to good old fashioned yellow straw. (not hay)

 

[greenkjb]

Thanks for all of the suggestions! I think I am going to try sand next. Would play sand be okay?