Help! Smelly Brooder

[aldarita]

This is my first time with chicks but I am a big fan of sand as bedding. Almost no smell at all. I scoop out the poop every day with a "reptile scoop" from the pet store (it's like a kitty litter scoop but with smaller mesh.)

I am about to get my batch of chicks in few days, I have read about using sand in the brooder, actually I have sand in my run with my older girls and PDZ in the coop floor and roosting boxes (I love this system because you have no flies, no smell and it is very easy to clean) however for the brooder, I am a little concerned about the dust and the small space the chicks will be living in, I worry about their respiratory system being affected with the dust the sand produces.
Does anybody have any opinion about this issue?

 

[maggierose]

I have been using two totes, as well, and change them out every day. I use a layer of food grade DE, then pine shavings, then put in a little bit of straw/hay. Also a pile of "chick grit" in the corner that they LOVE! Water up on a small brick to keep it out of the shavings. Also put in a stick so they can practice their perching. So far, so good!

 

[MrsWeasley]

Added pdz this week, and the smell continues to be unbearable. I think we'll try sand this week.

 

[rheachic36]

I use sand and pdz and scoop it out everyday (dont change the actual sand too often because its a big job) and it still stinks every day i have a large dog crate and only 5 chicks- 4 weeks old