changing pine shavings??

[tigercreek]

How often do you normally have to change the pine shavings out? 14 chicks in 2X3 brooder. thanks . ............stan

 

[HollywoodHillsHens]

Wow - I'd probably scoop out the worst of the visible poop about every day, or change everything every third day or so. We had only four chicks in something that size and I had to change it fully at least weekly. It's amazing the volume of poop that the little peepers create! Perhaps it's because the brooder was in our master bathroom and I wasn't into smelling it, but that seemed to me to be reasonable.

Also...I have heard pine shavings are safe, but there is some offgassing - suggest you consider aspen shavings, as they are even safer.

 

[Yoda]

I agree with above. I cleaned mine out at least once a week and the most chicks I had in one that size was 9. I would clean it out twice a week with that many babies.

 

[Petej]

When I was using pine litter I cleaned mine (top layer only) daily. Every couple days I would toss it all and put in fresh litter.

I'm using newspaper/waste paper now as my brooder is huge and it was costing me too much in litter.....

 

[justbugged]

I probably change things about the time I can start to smell things. But I also keep my brooder out in the garage. But cleaning the obvious out is good common sense. The chicks are not immune to a lot of things like salmonella until they are about 2 weeks. So the first 2 weeks are the most important to keep an eye out for chicks with pasty butt, and respiratory distress. After the first two weeks then I don't sweat things very much. Most chickens are able to handle less than pristine conditions.

 

[Fred's Hens]

If you have 14 chicks in a 2x3 brooding area, you gonna have to move them to much larger quarters very soon anyhow. Perhaps you'd rather put those fresh shavings there. 14 chicks will need a grow out pen soon, perhaps as large as 8x10. Depending on the breed and their temperament, picking and harming each other is a real risk. Enjoy your new batch.