Chicks on sand?

[debid]

Alright, so the brooder is thoroughly washed, sun-dried, and in place by the outlet on the porch. Now the monumental decision needs to be made -- what to put in it for litter? The brooder is made of unpainted OSB (it's borrowed, that part was NOT my idea!)

I have two 50# sacks of leftover sand sitting unused in the garage. Those should give me roughly 1.5" depth but I'd probably get one more sack. After the chicks moved into the coop, the sand could be mixed with wood ashes and recycled into a dust bath area in the run. I was thinking I'd put a thick layer of newspapers under the sand to provide added insulation and keep the poop from ever reaching the wood. I'd also need something to sift the poop out; maybe a kitty litter scoop or a metal strainer?

Great idea or not so much? I obviously could go with shavings but after cleaning out the brooder box, I'm not sure I want to use shavings in there. It was seriously NASTY how the shavings and poop had mixed and glued itself to that OSB.

 

[bakerjw]

I use porch paint on all exposed OSB surfaces. Once it has dried it is pretty easy to clean.

 

[debid]

Yes, and if it were mine, I would not hesitate to paint it. But I have to give it back when I'm done...

 

[juliette2009]

I am using sand in my current brooder, and like it very much. I have gone from pine shavings to wire to pine pellets to sand...So far, I'm liking the sand a lot! I use a reptile scoop from Petsmart to clean the sand.

Juliette

 

[debid]

Quote:
How deep do you make the sand? And do you cover it with paper towels the first couple of days to keep them from eating it?

 

[Wildflower_VA]

Quote:
How deep do you make the sand? And do you cover it with paper towels the first couple of days to keep them from eating it?

It is good that they eat the sand. It serves as tiny grit and contains prebiotics, both of which help prevent pasty butt.

 

[debid]

Thank you! I'm feeling much better about using the sand. A few people gave me the "What planet are you from?" look when I mentioned it.

 

[juliette2009]

I keep my babies in a rubbermaid bin for the first week, on paper towels, then they go right onto the sand. Within a day or two, they are dust bathing!

 

[GhostRider65]

I'm also using sand, in my first brooder, it's about 1 1/2 to 2 inches think, 5 bags it took but the brooder is 4feet by 50 inches. so good sized area next to a rubbermaid tub. how big is your brooder?
but this amount seems to be plenty deep enough for them, I use a black plastic strainer spoon to scoop pooh...... into a small metal strainer, works great, at first it will be a little dusty, so mist it after your done but after a couple days it don't seem to be any more dusty than they are, so I just shake the strainer very close to the ground so it doesn't get every where. They love to bath an peck around in the sand. Kim

 

[columbiacritter]

I use sand and have never had issues with pasty butt. I think the sand they eat helps their digestion.