Best On-line Supply Company? Best Brooder Bedding?

[Gjdossett]

I'm sure everyone has their own ideas, but who do you think provides the best poultry equipment at the best prices online?

I personally prefer more traditional galvanized and glass equipment, which affects my opinion of course. However, I find myself in search of a heating plate for 25 new chicks coming in mid june--not that they will need it much here in Arizona, but our evenings do get chilly, even in the heat of summer.

Also, what is your favorite brooder bedding, and why? I've always just used leftover pet rat bedding, about which I am highly particular. Yeah, I know, but rat people are even more peculiar about these things than chicken people! However, I find myself suddenly ratless for the first time in 15 years. I'm actually going to buy bedding for baby chicks--on purpose!

"Um...why does my bedding smell like CHICKENS?!"​

 

[Punkybrewster]

In the brooder i use dog pee pads. Their non slip and easy to change out when dirty. Once the chicks are stable and moved to the coop, i use shavings.

 

[aart]

@Gjdossett What exactly is 'rat bedding'...and what kind is best IYO?
Probably some controversy and preferences there too.

I use PDZ granulated zeolite under paper towels for the first week in the brooder,
then they go outside with pine shavings.

I'm OK with plastic and wood for water and feed.
I put it on a tote lid to keep it cleaner and use sand filled 8 and 16oz tubs to raise them up as chicks grow.

Never bought any of it online.

 

[rosemarythyme]

What a cute rattie mcrattersons! Were you using paper bedding for the rats, or wood shavings?

I use aspen shavings for young chicks. You will get a huge variety of answers as far as bedding, because everyone manages things differently and has access to different materials.

I really haven't bought too much chicken stuff online. My waterer is from Premier 1 Supplies since I couldn't find the specific model I wanted locally.