Cleaning Routine Brooder and Beyond

[ChickMami]

I'm using pine shavings and a few sheets of newspaper on the bottom. I change the water a few times a day as they looove to scratch and dig and kick up the shavings. I do a complete change out of the shavings/paper every 3 days. I probably could go longer but I like to keep it really clean.

 

[hillcrest10Hens]

It depends a lot on the size of the brooder and the age of the chicks, too. My nose is my guide!

 

[countrydream7]

i clean mine out once a week or if it looks messy sooner..clean all out then spray everything down with apple cider vinegar then wipe then put pine shavings down..fill water with vitamins fill feeder..done and set to go ...love my bjg chicks about 5 wks old now

 

[VictoriaW]

Any thoughts or advantages or not of using shredded paper? My husband has a shredder at work and I thought this might be a good bedding for them? Or are pine shavings or something else better? I have 1 1/2 week olds and so far using pine shavings.

 

[Beekissed]

Any thoughts or advantages or not of using shredded paper? My husband has a shredder at work and I thought this might be a good bedding for them? Or are pine shavings or something else better? I have 1 1/2 week olds and so far using pine shavings.

They clump and mold if used in quantity but can be used a little among pine shavings if you are careful.

 

[mamabear72]

Any thoughts or advantages or not of using shredded paper? My husband has a shredder at work and I thought this might be a good bedding for them? Or are pine shavings or something else better? I have 1 1/2 week olds and so far using pine shavings.

We were using newspaper shred bedding and decided to switch when our fluffers were two weeks old because they constantly got globs of poo and newspaper pieces stuck to their feet even though I cleaned they brooder daily. I got tired of soaking chicken toes to gently remove the blobs so we switched to sand. They went CRAZY! Dust bathing like they were having fits, flicking sand everywhere and trying to roll on their backs. They're 3 1/2 weeks old now and since they're used the sand they don't go crazy like they used to but I still see sand on their backs at times so I know they're sneaking dust baths here and there. I also added Sweet pdz to help absorb the poopies and it's AMAZING. We have six chicks in our kitchen in their brooder and I've NEVER smelled any odor what so ever. The dust is everywhere and I'm a bit over the top with scooping their poopies (3-4 times a day, or whenever I check on them) but we haven't had any poop globs on their feet since switching over to sand.

 

[ellend]

My Brooder is a 700 dog crate about 4X2. I have 4 chicks that are 3 weeks old now. I have sand in the bottom and I use my litter scoop to clean up 2-3 times a day. I had paper towels on top for the first few days and changed those as often as possible. Trying to keep a clean brooder to help avoid Coccidia

I use sand with my adult birds. Have you ever had chicks get impacted from sand?

 

[countrydream7]

I would just use the pine shavings.. me personally the paper has ink on it and pecking and eating thru it to me ink on paper no good, but that is my opinion..

 

[hillcrest10Hens]

I never tried shredded paper w/my chicks but I have used it in the nesting boxes in the coop. My hens don't seem to mind it and make nice nests w/the shredded paper and wood shavings and every once in a while there might be a bit of paper stuck to an egg. Of course, every once in a while there are wood shavings stuck to an egg, also. I was hoping to be able to recycle our shredded paper but it doesn't look like viable bedding.

 

[SusanPC]

I just emptied my brooder a few days ago after trying a cycle with my shredded office paper. It worked okay, but isn't as absorbent as pine shavings and didn't help with odor control. I was concerned about the ink, but decided to give it a try anyway. They may have eaten some although I never saw them, but I didn't and don't see any negative effects. I will say that they were very entertained by the paper. They would pick at colored pieces and carry them around and chase each other. I only kept it in for a few days, because the pine shavings are so much better at absorption (and they smell nice). I was thinking it would be a great, free product to use, but was slightly disappointed. I would use it temporarily if I was out of litter or need something quickly. Maybe I'm just spoiled by the pine shavings. I have also tried sand for a cycle, and it's not my favorite. I found it to be dusty/sandy with sand dust covering everything in the brooder, but maybe it's the sand I used since others really love it. I live in a dry/hot area of the country and my yard is pure red clay. I have enough sand and dirt flying around our town and covering everything (including my house, yard, and car) that I am interested in created a more woody environment around and in the coop and run. I am planning to use pine shavings or mulch or nuggets in the run and the shavings in the coop. I am going to find every piece of organic/dry material I can (leaves, etc.) and use it in the run. I love this adventure with chicks and trying out new things and seeing how they work for the chicks and for me.