Cleaning Routine Brooder and Beyond

[ottbmom]

This is my first time with chickens at all, so I'm sort of winging it here! I had plenty of shavings on hand that I use for the horse stalls, so the bedding is so thick, the poo never seems to reach the bottom (yet!). So my plan so far is to add fresh shavings every day, and then do a complete change out and wipe down once a week. I have the chicks in the house, and have been very pleased that they don't smell at all! The water gets shavings in it, so I rinse and refill every day, and I refill the feed every day, just wiping it down as needed. It's six chicks in a 50 gal tub, so hopefully they won't outgrow that too awful fast!!

For those using sand--that sounds like a great idea! I use sand footing, so I have tons of it. But is there a certain type of sand to use or any to avoid? Does it mess up waterers at all? I may try this with my next batch

 

[sacchick]

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

Nope I used paper towels for the first few days to be sure they were eating their food.. No intestinal issues

 

[mtinney]

Thanks for the heads up. The paper towels worked well for the first 2 weeks, but since your post I felt my chickens may be missing out on something. I added a layer of pine shavings and at first they did not want to step on it. Now they love it. It is easier to keep clean. Thank you.

 

[countrydream7]

yes love the shavings keeps the smell down better too..when they start to smell change brooder..they love to scurry through the shavings and it makes them more comfortable to lay in too..good luck to you ..

 

[countrydream7]

i put three pieces of 2 by 4 wood screwed together under water and feed holders works great so no shavings in water or food hardly anymore...yeah ...bjg chicks growing like weeds ..

 

[ChickMami]

I added a small brick under my water and food but it's time to lift it higher. I think I'll try adding a2x4 too

 

[VictoriaW]

So here is my biggest chick- 2 weeks old. She has just recently started sitting on top of water and feeder. Should I be afraid she can get out of the crate all the way?

 

[grampsjim]

Oh yeah, she can fly over the top! You need to put a screen top on it esp. if your brooder is outside. My brooder is in our garage and my chicks a 3 weeks old and fly everywhere!
We cover the brooder with a framed chicken wire top that fits the box that we use for that purpose. The live safely that way because my cat stays in the garage,too.

 

[Tucker91]

Boy I think I might be doing overkill on the cleaning. LOL! I have had my chicks just over a week. I have been using a litter scoop to scoop as much as I can AM and PM. and add back a little shavings at night. I have completely changed the bedding once. I am changing and cleaning their water twice a day and refilling the feeder and cleaning as needed each time I am down there with the chicks.

 

[grampsjim]

It took me a little while to realize the same thing. I cleaned the roost completely today for the first in a couple if weeks. I have simply been turning the straw. I used dried leaves under it today. Much cheaper than straw!!