can i use newspaper for the floor of my brooder ?

[Daniel_2kaii9]

hey, can i use newspaper for the floor of my brooder for my chicks and ducklings and put a tea towel under the light so thay have something nice to sleep on ???

thanks

~Daniel~

 

[gryeyes]

Do not use newspaper as it is slippery and can/will contribute to spraddle leg - especially in the ducklings!

The best - in MY opinion - brooder litter is pine shavings. Nice and deep amount. For the first day or two, you MIGHT put paper towels over it. I never did, but none of my chicks were less than 4 days old. Some folks used the paper towels so the chicks could tell where the feed was, and not confuse the shavings with feed.

With a nice deep layer of pine shavings, you won't need a towel under the light. They'll be comfy enough on the pine shavings. Do NOT use cedar shavings.

 

[chickengrandma]

Ditto. Use pine shavings. They are wonderful. They are "good" for the chickies. They smell good and they are easy to clean up. There is no benefit to use newspaper compared to pine shavings.

Although, I did put newspaper under my pine shavings, but only because my brooder was a cardboard box and I didn't want the poo to soak into the cardboard itself.

 

[Daniel_2kaii9]

i have wood shavings but i dont know what kind thay are

 

[3chimama]

I have always used newspaper for my brooder and never had a problem- didn't even know it could be a problem until I read it on here....

 

[jaj121159]

Quote:
New pine savings should be a bright off yellow, just like pine lumber. Cedar will be darker and have a reddish tone. If you have a decent nose (not me) you should be able to smell the difference.

 

[Ga.chickenman]

Same here I also us news paper.. No problems so far.

 

[easttxchick]

I used shredded newspapers covered with paper towels under my ducklings(did not brood them with chicks-my ducklings kept EVERYTHING wet all the time) and pine shavings for my chicks brooder.

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

Newspaper can be used for a brooder, but not recommended for newly hatched babies due to the risk of them developing spraddle leg (which is treatable, btw).

 

[woodmort]

Quote:
I've floor brooded chicks at least a dozen of the last 25 year and used newspapers every time--even for duckling and goslings--never a problem except they shred it up and it ends up in their waterer and feeders. Right now I have 32 6-week old chicks on newspapers and they're doing well.

I have a problem using shavings with really young chicks since I feel they eat the shavings and not starter feed. If it doesn't kill them at least, since they still haven't ingested grit, it may slow down their assimilation of food and growth. I never put shavings down until the 8th week or so.