brooding on peat moss?

[urbanagrarian]

I've always brooded my chicks on pine shavings, but this year I'm considering using peat moss instead. I'm thinking that I might be able to compost it faster for the garden when I'm finished brooding.

Can anyone here who has used peat moss compare it to pine shavings for me. I'm wondering how it worked out for other people.

Thanks

Joan
http://urban-agrarian.blogspot.com/

 

[allen wranch]

Peat moss is very dusty and could cause respiratory problems. I wouldn't chance it.

 

[jimrichter]

That worries me. I'd read in several sources both in paper/online form saying that peat moss would make a fine brooder litter. Is there anyone there who has had problems w/ peat moss. I've currently got a dozen and 1/2 wyandottes on a bedding of peat moss.

Jim

 

[Chick_a_dee]

Peat moss isn't dusty... We used it for our 14 year old gelding who has severe HEAVES, and if you don't know what that is, it's COPD for horses, and it was way better for him than regular shavings which ARE VERY DUSTY. Peat moss is a moister bedding, and retains pee and stuff really well without getting to gross. It smells nice too.

 

[allen wranch]

Chick_a_dee,
Glad to hear your experience with peat moss is positive.

You mentioned it retained moisture well. Have you seen any evidence of mold in it ?

Jimrichter,
How was your experience with your chicks on the peat moss ?

 

[joebryant]

Quote:
It's somewhat dusty. I see it on the white sections of my waterer and feeder in my brooder. The chicks have scratched in it so much that by now it has been shredded down to miniscule particles, but I don't have a problem with that because it's like loose, dry dirt. I'm not going to worry about its causing respiratory problems because I've read nothing about any such or related fatalities from someone's using it in their brooder. If my chicks start sneezing or acting strange (Strike that; they're always acting strange.), I'll be suspicious of dust; until then...
BTW, do chickens sneeze?

 

[allen wranch]

Thanksfor the report Joe. Glad to hear the peat moss turned out OK.

My chickens sneeze.

 

[halo]

Peat moss is dusty. We had 40 horses on it for a short period, and couldnt stand it. There was fine dust over everything, including the horses. We had to keep wetting it down, it was a mess. We stopped using it and went back to shavings.