Possibly so. I'm using the pine shavings (regular, not fine) from TSC. It's what was recommended by the employee amd what both of my friends who keep chickens use. They're of course still in the brooder, but it's what I planned to use in the run, coop, and nest boxes too. I'll have to see how it works out in the long run, I suppose.
We use all kinds of substrates here. We do throw old mulch into the deep litter run, and birds dig through the mulch in flower beds without issues. Sand can work as long as it doesn't get wet, but even dry it can be hard to keep clean. Most of my bantam are cochins.
Absolutely. I think assuming there is "one right way" to keep your chickens would be about like saying there is one right way to raise children. We all do what works best for our stubborn, beloved little ones.
The idea of close to 60 bantam cochins frolicking around your property is both delightful and terrifying!
Mine are still too young to really know personalities. But so far, the Sebright is incredibly loud and seems the most flighty. It isn't overly fond of being held, and it's very fast. The OEGB is the most timid. It gets very still when picked up and it's happy to sleep in my hand. The d'Uccle and the cochin are the most curious 2.The idea of close to 60 bantam cochins frolicking around your property is both delightful and terrifying!
I was kind of on the fence about mine, but they've really started to grow on me now that they're maturing. And the one layer is almost as consistent as my sex link! She keeps trying to sit on them, but that's beside the point. Now if only they'd clean their grody little feet...
They are great little chickens. The only downside is them going broody. I'm constantly breaking a bunch at a time. They do make good mothers, so hatching can become a problem if you have troubles with chicken math. What's a couple more?The idea of close to 60 bantam cochins frolicking around your property is both delightful and terrifying!
I was kind of on the fence about mine, but they've really started to grow on me now that they're maturing. And the one layer is almost as consistent as my sex link! She keeps trying to sit on them, but that's beside the point. Now if only they'd clean their grody little feet...
About the same here (silkies).
We use horse bedding pellets in all of our coops and hutches. That might be helping the clean feet issue as they dry out the poops. I never thought of it. That wasn't why we use them though, it's because they are inexepensive, remove odors and moisture, and virtually maintenance free. Even in the brooders. Albeit the first few days we put down paper towels for the newly hatched, but after that it's just pellets.
Hmm, that's a thought for sure. I need to compare cost of those to the pine shavings in currently using in the brooder.
Pellets are $8 for 40# and our brooders take less than 1/2 a bag. If I sell the chicks, I'll leave the same pellets in there. Otherwise, those I change out every couple of batches. If one side is dirtier than the other, I just mix them around with my hand. No chance of cocciodosis either as the poop is dried out.
