Brooder bedding foot issues

[BigBlueHen53]

Cedar is toxic, but pine is fine.

Good luck with your endeavor! I keep mine rotating on my garden beds. They eat the bugs and fertilize the bed, then move on to the next one.

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That's awesome, Bee!

 

[NatJ]

I don't have the setup for a huge compost heap for all the deep litter etc

You could just leave it in the run, and occasionally dig out some of the bottom level to put on a garden or around trees or something like that. (Dig off some of the top and pitch to one side, then take out & use some of the underneath layer that is probably almost done breaking down.)

 

[NatJ]

ETA they are currently in a tote nearly 6 sq ft for 16 chicks.

If you give them a lot more space, the poop will be spread out further, so it can dry out more (and maybe not get stepped in as much.)

Yours have about 1/3 square foot each, but I don't know what the recommended amount is for brooding quail.

 

[Nabiki]

That amount of space is fine up to about 2-3 weeks. After that they need more.

 

[enigmachick]

OK, I put every single one in a tub with silicone shelf liner non-slip and shallow water to walk around for a few minutes and it did absolute wonders with their feet, they're not perfect but vastly vastly better!!! I think if I had put sand in there it may have worked better but I didn't want to deal with heavy wet sand. I dried each ones feet and then put them back in their brooder after I scooped through all the sand and put a layer of aspen chips on top of most of it.
They immediately began playing in it and eating it and snuggled down, they seem pretty happy so far, I'm very interested to see how their feet do.

I am guessing based on the feedback that I will need to pick out the aspen every day and replace it, I'm wondering if the chicks will naturally turn it enough to keep their poops from sitting on top?

Also wanted to show off my cuties!!!

 

[enigmachick]

That amount of space is fine up to about 2-3 weeks. After that they need more.

I figured, they grow like crazy! I have another feeder and brooder plate being shipped so they can be split into two tubs. I had no idea they would be so much expense, work and fun, I can watch them for hours!

 

[Nabiki]

OK, I put every single one in a tub with silicone shelf liner non-slip and shallow water to walk around for a few minutes and it did absolute wonders with their feet, they're not perfect but vastly vastly better!!! I think if I had put sand in there it may have worked better but I didn't want to deal with heavy wet sand. I dried each ones feet and then put them back in their brooder after I scooped through all the sand and put a layer of aspen chips on top of most of it.
They immediately began playing in it and eating it and snuggled down, they seem pretty happy so far, I'm very interested to see how their feet do.

I am guessing based on the feedback that I will need to pick out the aspen every day and replace it, I'm wondering if the chicks will naturally turn it enough to keep their poops from sitting on top?

Also wanted to show off my cuties!!!

In my experience, they don't turn it. You end up with a layer of poop on top and clean shavings underneath.

 

[FloorCandy]

You can add more chips over the old soiled stuff each day, and after 3-4 days throw it all out and start again, like mini deep litter. I mix the old up, then put a fresh layer on top, mixing the old helps it dry out and not get smelly.

 

[vall]

I've been using peat moss. They get a little bit stuck to their feet but it isn't huge toeballs. It's easy to turn and lasts longer than shavings. Plus I'd rather have peat than shavings in the compost pile.

 

[enigmachick]

Ya'll are so fantastic, UPDATE! So the shavings yesterday were a huge success, the quail were SO happy, we've had a ton of fun watching them dig and peck and burrow through the shavings, they're like kids at Christmas. They like to dig little bathing holes to the sand and dust bathe then snuggle down on the shavings for naps. I expected waking up this morning to see a mat of poops on top but I think because the sand is underneath they are digging in it enough to keep it moving, it was barely soiled looking and no smell to speak of! In fact, I went to scoop it out and replace today and realized during that it really didn't need it, most of what I was picking up was completely fresh so I think I will try your idea @FloorCandy and add some on top for a few days before replacing. I just have no idea where their poops are going honestly, I'm wondering if they are turning the poops under and they dry out in the sand underneath or something, it feels like there's just almost no poop in there anymore! Other observation, the shavings are dramatically warmer than the sand was, probably 5-10 full degrees warmer, they now snuggle outside of their brooder plate as well.

Now if they would just stop picking on each other, I keep hearing squeaks of pain as they like to peck each other, grab feathers etc. I can't tell that it's any one, it's just all of them doing it in passing it seems, even the runt! They have everything they need but tomorrow I am planning on splitting them between two brooders just in case they're feeling crowded, other than that I'm stumped, they have plenty of food, two waterers, sand, shavings, heat (plate, so can't be overheated) and stay busy digging etc...I have some soldier fly larvae supposed to arrive tomorrow to introduce them to something else new but other than that I have no more ideas!

ETA I forgot the obvious, their feet are WAYYYYYY better, some are perfectly clean now and most are very close