Cleaning Brooder?

[chickendude9]

How often do you think i should clean my brooder? I got 4 chicks and ive been cleaning the bedding out every 2-3 days. too often or not enough?

 

[kynewbchickie]

How often do you think i should clean my brooder? I got 4 chicks and ive been cleaning the bedding out every 2-3 days. too often or not enough?

I'd say just use your judgment - I've got a 4'x4' brooder with 30 chicks, and I clean mine weekly and it's plenty often for our flock.

 

[JoeyOsborne]

cleaning every 2-3 days is absolutely fine! especially with 4 chicks

 

[TLWR]

I clean daily or 2x a day with 3 chicks that are 4.5 weeks now. When it was 6 chicks, I still cleaned at least daily and still tried to do 2x a day.
I have sand in the brooder, just a quick scoop to collect poop.

 

[chickendude9]

Sand,huh?

 

[Bellatrixed]

I clean every single day since I use sand in my brooder. There is 0 smell, only lots of dust which is unfortunate... but I'd rather have dust than stink!

I made a mini guide here if you're interested.

Sand in the brooder -- it's worth it!

 

[aggiemae]

I clean mine twice a day. I use stall dry (sand) after the first week and it takes about 2 minutes to clean it with a cat litter scoop.

BTW a few handful of pellet made of recycled paper/wood pulp added to the sand will cut down on the dust quite a bit. Get the small bits that will got through what ever you use to sift the sand.I think we are using "Crown Animal Bedding". It was under $10.00 of a 50 pound bag and composts very well.

 

[Chambertin]

Started cleaning every day. Then got lazy... too lazy.
Nobody died, but it was a mess.

The real question is what kind of bedding or litter do you use. Some can go a week (or more) others need daily maintence.
My favorites are shreadded paper until they are old enough to scratch and peck on their own. Cheap, easy to change, absorbant.
After that it depends on what is in the house.
Towels are nice as we run a washing service for popular hotels and first class airlines. (cue evil laughter)