Calling all users of Pawaboo Small Animals Playpen

[Hip Hillbilly Acres]

If you or someone you know uses these as a brooder I am wondering how they choose to handle cleaning, please. The first time I emptied everything and everyone out. This evening I tried leaving chicks in and doing half at a time (that took some time). I think I liked it better with the chicks out (but they scream so when picked up. Well, not all, but a few; it bothers me).

I'd also like to know if yaw'll put something UNDER the shavings? I have not been (the item is waterproof). But, I am wondering if clean up might be easier with something on top of the bottom, but underneath the wood chips.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Brooks_]

Perhaps a tarp under the flakes, lift out at once? Myself? I just add layers of flakes. I don't really clean out while in use.

 

[RoyalChick]

I used a different brand but looks identical.
Mine were in it for two weeks before moving out to the coop.
In that time I did not clean it out. I had a deep layer of wood shavings and just added more on top. Sort of like deep bedding rather than deep litter because there is no composting going on.
Everything stayed nice and dry and didn’t smell.
Once out in the coop I do the same. Deep litter in the run and deep bedding in the coop. I just keep adding dry bedding on top.

 

[SourRoses]

I've no experience with that particular pen, but for general brooder cleaning I leave them in and clean half at a time.
I think it's good for them to see slow moving human hands that don't do anything to them. Just my own pet theory.
I usually do one half every other day, so they have a day off in between but the mess never gets out of hand. It's also easier to deal with waterers and feeders if the feed is on one side (warmer) and the waterer on the other, I scrub each with soap on the day their side is getting cleaned and then make sure the wood holding them up above the shavings is sitting nicely.

On our recent brooder build we added "runs" (playpens fashioned from dog pens and hw cloth) with separate side doors for them to go out there... That makes it really easy to do cleaning because I can shoo them out and shut the door. Or shoo them in and clean up their run.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Newspaper? Puppy pads, maybe?

 

[Hip Hillbilly Acres]

Perhaps a tarp under the flakes, lift out at once? Myself? I just add layers of flakes. I don't really clean out while in use.

Really!!!??? Even at brooding stage? I mean, I know I wanna do deep bedding once in the coop; but figured it was a no go in the brooder. Hmmmm . . .

ETA: I just read subsequent comments and apparently it's cool to do so in the brooder. Shoot, hot diggity; I'm on it.

Pssst, between me and yaw'll, I did NOT realize the coop would be SO expensive. I was reading stuff about donated this and free that. NOT OVA HEYA. Ok. rant over, I'll just have to suck it up. Looks like OUR coop will be closing in at $1,000.00; ugghhhh. Can't get supplies all at once I work only part time. Then I am running into issues with them maybe getting too large. Oy vey. They are one week old and I'll have maybe half of the money first of August.

 

[Matejka]

By the time chicks are 4 weeks old-im tired of
The mess
Having them inside
The mess
Hauling them in/out to acclimate them to outside temps
Dust
Spilled water
The mess
The sooner you have coop h run up and usable the happier you and the chicks will be.

 

[SourRoses]

Pssst, between me and yaw'll, I did NOT realize the coop would be SO expensive. I was reading stuff about donated this and free that. NOT OVA HEYA. Ok. rant over, I'll just have to suck it up. Looks like OUR coop will be closing in at $1,000.00; ugghhhh. Can't get supplies all at once I work only part time. Then I am running into issues with them maybe getting too large. Oy vey. They are one week old and I'll have maybe half of the money first of August.

That does sound expensive. Have you looked on your local craigslist / fb marketplace for used materials?
I'm currently hunting affordable fencing and it is not going that well (yet). $316 for the length I need is too much.
Honestly, when they get out there and start pooping on your dollars turned into lumber? It makes me wish it was all used materials.

 

[Hip Hillbilly Acres]

By the time chicks are 4 weeks old-im tired of
The mess
Having them inside
The mess
Hauling them in/out to acclimate them to outside temps
Dust
Spilled water
The mess
The sooner you have coop h run up and usable the happier you and the chicks will be.

I believe you.