Brooder Material

[Shemira]

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.
View attachment 4264059

omgosh so adorable! We have SS chicks at the moment (well 10 weeks now), they were so much lighter when they hatched then your chicks tho, almost white. So interesting....

 

[Shemira]

This pics is about 8 weeks (they are much darker now at 10 weeks)

 

[Rillowen]

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.

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?

If you wet the food a bit it will cut down in that source. I find they grow better anyway, I soak their feed for an hour in a large bowel before I give it. It turns into mush that is easier for them to eat and helps keep them hydrated, they eat more and waste less, and of course, less dust.