Changing litter

[poupoule]

Tried the sand anyway as a litter in my brooder. Would not recommended it!What a mess!!

Got everywher where chicks scratched. and get very sticky with the poos.

Will try newspaper today. But how many times do I need to change the litter in the brooder. I have now 12 chicks of different ages (not sure).

 

[redoak]

I had good luck with pine shavings. I'd change it twice a week and add a little more everyday.

 

[poupoule]

I am after a litter that I do not need to buy, but have plenty supply at home. So twice a week, sounds not to bad. Even for 1 week old?

 

[ole-crone]

We had a box of puppy training pads left over in a box. They are really nice - not very environmental but easy to clean up and absorbant.

 

[flakey chick]

They shouldn't be on newspaper when the are very young- Someone feel free to jump in and say when it's ok. It is too slipery and they get something called spradle leg. You can lay paper towels over the top.

 

[Kitchenella]

Why does newspaper litter cause spraddle leg?

Peggy

 

[Dawn419]

Quote:
It can be too slick/slippery when the chicks are only a few days old.


Dawn

 

[Fudgie]

When they potty on it too it gets even slicker like ice on a highway after a winter storm. Bambi ring a bell! LOL

I use the pine bedding and it works great. You can get the cheap dollar general shelf liner and it works great for traction for them.

 

[hollyk]

I am using the deep litter method in the big coop, it has worked great for the several months I have used it.

I took some of the old litter from the big coop- which is leaves, pine needles, and old hay- and mixed it with new hay for the litter in my brooder. It is about 6 inches deep. So far, it has worked out great. This chicks just arrived and are pooping like crazy. The poop oozes Down through the layers and is not making a mess at all. From what I have read, this deep litter won't need to be changed, just stired up about once a week. There are studies done on chicks raised on the deep litter with much higher success. If you would like to read these articles I found them at www.robertplamdondon.com.

 

[skand]

We use bed pads/liners with ours in the brooder for a few days, till thier legs get a lil stronger. After 3 days, then we switch to the shavings.