hay for brooder?

[Buckhunter76]

Iv'e heard the cedar shavings are bed too, I am using straw, it rarely hurts anything

My bad on that, I meant Bad not bed, lol

 

[hfchristy]

Ok heres a new one for you. I used Pine shavings for years had to clean weekly. Then started using Wood pellets.
Yes, the ones you use in the stoves.I LOVE them they hold the smell down longer. When they absorb the moisture they turn to saw dust. I then clean brooder boxes with a metal dust pan. Place the sawdust around Blueberries or flowerbeds as mulch.
All I can say is try it.

That's a cool idea. Are they acidic, or why specifically for blueberries?

Can the pine shavings be used as mulch, too, or do they need to be composted first?

 

[n8ivetxn]

Re: blueberries - put the pine shavings around any type of plant that prefers an acidic ph, pine trees prefer/are an acidic tree....

 

[bruceha2000]

heir moms would make a natural nest of wild grass and dirt so I don't see the difference I would just clean it as often as possible.

Hey, now there is a thought. Can I use grass from mowing the lawn? Growing fast and a couple inches more every week. Have lots of it strewn around the 1/2 acre lawn. Mower isn't a mulcher and I have WAY more things to do than worry about dead grass on the lawn.

 

[n8ivetxn]

I don't see why you couldn't use mowed grass.... I know some people would say it harbors micro critters, but if the chicks are healthy, it will only boost their immune systems and prep them for going out all together.

 

[bruceha2000]

OK, I put some dry grass in with the chicks when we'd had them 3 days. They immediately went for the teenie tiny black bugs. Got some more the next day and noticed small earwigs (not the most popular insect at our house!) in the box with the grass. I was going to throw it all out but figured "what the heck" and tossed one in. Most of the chicks were otherwise occupied but 3 saw it and gave it a once over. It took a little time but one finally decided to check it out more closely. One earwig down, 10 or so left. I put the grass and all the critters in with the chicks. The earwigs did not survive. Fun to watch 4 day old chicks already scratching in the grass to surface a snack.