Brooder bedding alternative

[GeneralLeia]

It would seem that my daughter is allergic to pine shavings, or that at least the dust us highly irritating. Honestly, the rest of us aren't dealing with it well either. Our brooder is in our master bath, small house (1100 sq ft.), too cold to keep them outside.

What are alternatives to pine shavings that are easy to maintain and acquire?

6 chicks, 5 are 1 week, 1 is 3 weeks

 

[lazy gardener]

Do you have your coop built? They could easily go into it if you can provide them with adequate heat there. Some people use aspen shavings. There are bedding pellets, but I have no experience with either. I'm guessing that what ever you use in the house will be an issue if the pine is bothering you. It could very well be the chicken dander that is the issue.

 

[snow5164]

I wear a mask whenever I'm with the chickens, be careful with them in the house I got a really bad lung infection a few years ago and when my dr found out I had chicks in the house... she told me to wear a mask and move them outside!!! Not safe for children at all !!

I use sand ,you can mist it to stop dust but it's the chickens who are dusty!!!

 

[GeneralLeia]

Do you have your coop built? They could easily go into it if you can provide them with adequate heat there. Some people use aspen shavings. There are bedding pellets, but I have no experience with either. I'm guessing that what ever you use in the house will be an issue if the pine is bothering you. It could very well be the chicken dander that is the issue.

No coop yet, working on it so it should be done soon. I'll look into the pellets, I've seen the feed store use them.

I wear a mask whenever I'm with the chickens, be careful with them in the house I got a really bad lung infection a few years ago and when my dr found out I had chicks in the house... she told me to wear a mask and move them outside!!! Not safe for children at all !!

I use sand ,you can mist it to stop dust but it's the chickens who are dusty!!!

Yes, it is far from ideal. I think it may just be agitating early spring allergies, and residual issues brought home from preschool. I do my best to keep the door closed, and the bathroom vent running. A mask is a good idea, though with a kid...good luck We may just have to bring the chicks out in a box lined with paper towels during snuggle time. I've thought about sand but wasn't sure if ingesting it would be a problem from the small ones.

 

[snow5164]

I just remembered! I used newspaper with paper towels on top in the brooder for 3 weeks... that's dust free and I bought a huge pack of cheap paper towels ..

Yes chicks will eat a little sand but with no problems I've seen.

 

[GeneralLeia]

I just remembered! I used newspaper with paper towels on top in the brooder for 3 weeks... that's dust free and I bought a huge pack of cheap paper towels ..

Yes chicks will eat a little sand but with no problems I've seen.

I will go buy some bargain paper towels

 

[donrae]

I agree it's far more likely the chicks themselves than the pine shavings. Hope I'm wrong, the shavings are much easier to change than the chicks

Lots of us never brood in the house due to the amount of dust/dander chicks put out. It's amazing how they can coat a room in that stuff, and then you think about inhaling that into your lungs.....

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Do you have a garage, shed, anyplace out of the house? Chicks do fine in places like that, even unheated buildings, as long as they have access to their warm spot--heat lamp, heating pad cave, etc.

 

[GeneralLeia]

I agree it's far more likely the chicks themselves than the pine shavings. Hope I'm wrong, the shavings are much easier to change than the chicks

Lots of us never brood in the house due to the amount of dust/dander chicks put out. It's amazing how they can coat a room in that stuff, and then you think about inhaling that into your lungs.....

.


Do you have a garage, shed, anyplace out of the house? Chicks do fine in places like that, even unheated buildings, as long as they have access to their warm spot--heat lamp, heating pad cave, etc.

The only reason they're in the house is because I have no where else, it is far from ideal. Maybe I will put a plastic sheet over the door as an extra barrier

 

[snow5164]

I'll tell you a secret, I have 21 chicks in my basement

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Yes i do, and I have hens in the coop that need to be killed but not yet.

Sometimes we do what we have to do and we live with it, I open the window some days but it's very cold here. As I said I wear a surgical mask I bought from the vet at all times,

And when we get rid of the old girls , the youngins will take their place.

It's doable, I've raised a few batches in my basement bedroom , no big deal

!!

 

[devora]

Agree w/ snow, newspapers on the bottom covered w/ a layer of paper towels. Depending on the mess either daily over other day roll the whole thing up and start over.

Funny, I've always raised my girls inside w/ me and never had any allergy/breathing issues. Good luck!!