Brooder Material

[SunnyClucks]

Sorry to ask again, I have 6 wk old chicks indoors( bad I know) my transition plan is running behind so they are still in my office. And the dust is getting to much. I also keep a air purifier running 24/7. Currently using wood shavings. Any things else I could use instead? I know a good part of dust is from them and feed. I tried to switch feeders to keep the feed waste down but it hasn't helped. Maybe fewer shavings and empty more often?

 

[DemeterAD9]

The dust is mostly from the chicks’ bodies as their feathers growing in. I’m sure some is from the feed and shavings but chicks are just dusty little things no matter what you do. More bedding, adding a new thin layer daily, even twice daily, can help trap the dust in the bedding so it doesn’t get kicked up so much from their activity. I typically change out the bedding when the smell gets more noticeable but that all depending on how many chicks are in there and how big the brooder is.

The best way to deal with it is brooding outside or in a garage. I’ve taken to keeping chicks inside for maybe the first 2 weeks then kicking them out to the larger brooder in the shed/garage.

 

[SunnyClucks]

The dust is mostly from the chicks’ bodies as their feathers growing in. I’m sure some is from the feed and shavings but chicks are just dusty little things no matter what you do. More bedding, adding a new thin layer daily, even twice daily, can help trap the dust in the bedding so it doesn’t get kicked up so much from their activity. I typically change out the bedding when the smell gets more noticeable but that all depending on how many chicks are in there and how big the brooder is.

The best way to deal with it is brooding outside or in a garage. I’ve taken to keeping chicks inside for maybe the first 2 weeks then kicking them out to the larger brooder in the shed/garage.

How much heat would you add if moving them to a unheated garage with temps between 40-20 degrees. 6 weeks fully feathered? Obviously I shouldn't just put them out there after they have been living in 70 degree indoor.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Some of the dust I don't think you can do much about. It's dried bits of shed skin and bits from feathers and down. If you are feeding dry feed consider making a damp mash instead. Their scratching can shred the wood flakes and create dust. Maybe switch to wood chips or something that doesn't shred that easily. Part of the dust could be from dried poop so keep the bedding changed out.

I've kept chicks a little younger than yours in temperatures in the mid 20's Fahrenheit, but mine were acclimated. Yours would probably be OK in your temperatures but taking them out there for a few hours for a few days could help. Just keep them out of a direct breeze.

I don't know what you would have in that garage to keep them in. I'd want something big enough that I could heat one small area and let the rest cool off to ambient temperatures. That's what I do in my coop so mine are acclimated. Many people would be surprised how much time they choose to spend in colder spots when heat is available. What do you have to supply heat? I use a heat lamp but heat plates, heating pads, and other things can work. Just make sure they can escape the heat if they want to. You don't want to cook them.

 

[SunnyClucks]

Some of the dust I don't think you can do much about. It's dried bits of shed skin and bits from feathers and down. If you are feeding dry feed consider making a damp mash instead. Their scratching can shred the wood flakes and create dust. Maybe switch to wood chips or something that doesn't shred that easily. Part of the dust could be from dried poop so keep the bedding changed out.

I've kept chicks a little younger than yours in temperatures in the mid 20's Fahrenheit, but mine were acclimated. Yours would probably be OK in your temperatures but taking them out there for a few hours for a few days could help. Just keep them out of a direct breeze.

I don't know what you would have in that garage to keep them in. I'd want something big enough that I could heat one small area and let the rest cool off to ambient temperatures. That's what I do in my coop so mine are acclimated. Many people would be surprised how much time they choose to spend in colder spots when heat is available. What do you have to supply heat? I use a heat lamp but heat plates, heating pads, and other things can work. Just make sure they can escape the heat if they want to. You don't want to cook them.

If I were to move them to the garage, I could provide either a heat lamp, heat mat or the brooder plate from when they were chicks. Not sure they would get much benifit since they wouldn't fit under any more.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Not sure they would get much benifit since they wouldn't fit under any more.

Why wouldn't they fit? Lots of people use heat lamps, heat plates, or heating mats for older chicks, whether they need them or not. A lot of the time the chicks choose not to use them because they really don't need them. I just don't understand your limitations.

 

[Shemira]

I found dust (and just pine shaving randomly embedding themselves throughout our entire home and clothing somehow! lol) dramatically reduced for me when I switched to hemp bedding It seems to bed down a lot better and is not as loose as the pine shavings, and possibly even more absorbent/less aromas which is a bonus!

 

[Debbie292d]

We've used horse bedding pellets in the coops for nearly a decade, but just a couple of years ago thought I'd try them in the brooders. What a game changer! No smell anymore, no pads to change, just stir them around with a stick daily. In the coops, the chickens do that.

Do they eat them? Probably the pellet chips like anything else, but soon learn they taste nasty. Hundreds of silkies have lived in our brooders with those pellets just fine. I'd never go back to anything else.

 

[Shemira]

We've used horse bedding pellets in the coops for nearly a decade, but just a couple of years ago thought I'd try them in the brooders. What a game changer! No smell anymore, no pads to change, just stir them around with a stick daily. In the coops, the chickens do that.

Do they eat them? Probably the pellet chips like anything else, but soon learn they taste nasty. Hundreds of silkies have lived in our brooders with those pellets just fine. I'd never go back to anything else.

hmmmm so interesting, thanks you, I'll look into them

 

[Debbie292d]

hmmmm so interesting, thanks you, I'll look into them

When they're 0-3 days, we lay down paper towels for them in the corner. In this case, it was a little silkie with 4 older speckled sussex, so she had her little home there for a couple
of days.