brooder bedding

[Nash37212]

I am NO expert, but I use the landscaping sand from Home Depot. Takes a day or two to dry in the sun before I put it in, but they seem to like it. I also sprinkle PDZ. I did use paper towels for 4 days first so they knew what proper food was.

 

[NewChkinTown]

I am NO expert, but I use the landscaping sand from Home Depot. Takes a day or two to dry in the sun before I put it in, but they seem to like it. I also sprinkle PDZ. I did use paper towels for 4 days first so they knew what proper food was.

Is this what you're referring to?

 

[VictoriaTemple]

I LOVE sand! Super easy to clean, just shake it through a sifter and all the poop and spilled feed comes right out. It also releases trapped moisture and ammonia gas. Try that with paper! (stinky!) As a bonus, the chicks love to run on it and scratch through it, they learn to dust bathe early, AND they eat it as grit until they are old enough for layer-sized crushed granite. The only downside is it’s a little cold and traps water and humidity, so watch your temperature and sift often to clean, dry, and fluff the sand. It’s great! I tried pine shavings too. What a mess, they stick to EVERYTHING, but they do improve the smell.

 

[Kiki]

Peat moss.

 

[NewChkinTown]

I LOVE sand! Super easy to clean, just shake it through a sifter and all the poop and spilled feed comes right out. It also releases trapped moisture and ammonia gas. Try that with paper! (stinky!) As a bonus, the chicks love to run on it and scratch through it, they learn to dust bathe early, AND they eat it as grit until they are old enough for layer-sized crushed granite. The only downside is it’s a little cold and traps water and humidity, so watch your temperature and sift often to clean, dry, and fluff the sand. It’s great! I tried pine shavings too. What a mess, they stick to EVERYTHING, but they do improve the smell.

What kind of sand do you use? Do you have a picture by chance?

 

[VictoriaTemple]

What kind of sand do you use? Do you have a picture by chance?

Quikrete Play Sand from Lowe’s. It’s usually $4.40 /50#, but I just bought some, and because of the COVID thing it was only $2.50!! I guess they want parents filling their kids’ sandboxes at home instead of taking them to the park. You DON’T want to use Quikrete All-Purpose Sand (for concrete mixing) because the stones in it are too big. Plus the softer, finer texture of the Play Sand sifts easier.

 

[Chicky Lover]

I am a new chick owner, and I started off by using pine shavings.

 

[NewChkinTown]

Quikrete Play Sand from Lowe’s. It’s usually $4.40 /50#, but I just bought some, and because of the COVID thing it was only $2.50!! I guess they want parents filling their kids’ sandboxes at home instead of taking them to the park. You DON’T want to use Quikrete All-Purpose Sand (for concrete mixing) because the stones in it are too big. Plus the softer, finer texture of the Play Sand sifts easier.

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I read that play sand has silica in it. Does this one?

 

[rosemarythyme]

I use wood shavings. Obviously everyone has their preferred substrate, given the variety of answers! But all of them seem safe enough to me except the newspaper due to the risk of slipping.

 

[Nash37212]

Is this what you're referring to?

Yes that’s exactly it.