How often change pine shavings?

[xjonesy]

Well, I finally did it -- I bought 6 chicks and have them in a large brown box in the garage. I covered the bottom of the box with newspaper and and then a good inch of pine shavings on top of the newspaper.

My question: how often should I be changing the pine shavings and newspaper to keep it clean for the chicks? I want to keep them healthy, but I can't change it every day. I've been adding a small layer of pine shavings over their manure each day to at least keep them from pecking at it.

Any suggestions or insight?

Thanks,
Excited in Utah

 

[RendonRoo]

Your on the right track. As long as it stays dry it will last a while. I would change it after about a week or so though. Good Luck.
P.S. They will peck at and eat the poo. It's ok though. It actually helps them get their digestive system working.

 

[RIVERA69R]

If there in a big enough box i would say at least once a week I usually change mine every weekend I have 8 in a 6ft x 2ft wide reptile tank but this weekend they are moving outside for good

 

[xjonesy]

Interesting. Thanks for the info...that makes me feel a little better. I was getting worried watching them peck at it.

I was also worried when I saw some in the water -- I was changing the water every time I saw some poop in there.

Can you tell I'm a first timer?

 

[Chicken Fruit]

Scoop out any wet spots and add a little more. Change it when it wont stay dry anymore or when it smells.

I prefer cozynfresh bedding from TSC- it stays fresher longer and dries fast and completely, much better than shavings.

 

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

Soon those babies will be scratching all the time, so putting down a thin layer on top of the old won't work.

Enjoy them now - soon they will be dropping big smelly poo.

In the beginning I layered new on old but beginning at 3 wks I change out all litter once a week.

 

[txchickie]

I have seven 3 week old bantams and I change their shavings once every 2 daysish? Sometimes 3.

They're in a large metal dog crate and tend to throw everything out the sides, so they kinda clean it out for me

I have to add new shavings every day (so they can kick them all over the floor for entertainment).

 

[ams3651]

you'll be suprised in 2 or 3 weeks how much more they poop. Mine went out to the shed after a couple weeks, they grow so fast at first and I couldnt do the smell in the house any longer. I cleaned it once a week at first till it wasnt enough anymore.

 

[cgmccary]

With 6 chicks, you can probably change it about every 3 days. As they get older, you might have to go to every other day. keep the water cleared. I used to use pine shavings, but it worked me to death with the more chicks I raised.

This year I have 40 chicks I hatched out, and I decided to go completely with sanitized [playground] quartz sand. I had used it with larger groups last year. I just buy it in the 50 lb bags and it is cheaper than the pine shavings. Gosh, the sand is a lot easier to keep clean & dry; I use a kitchen sifter, fine enough for the sand to pass through but not for the poop. I am able to recycle the sand. Of course, there I am sifting sand to get out the poop. They are in my basement in kiddie swimming pools, welded wire doubled over in a circle the shape of the pool. So far, so good. Going on 3 weeks.

 

[LoveMyBirds]

Quote:
I started using cardboard last year,, working my butt off cleaning daily..

Then I ran across these big plastic containers at Wal-Mart .. Put whatever you need in bottom.. Whenever you need to clean it is a breeze..

When chicks, turkeys, etc.. got big enough to fly up on edge, I put some wire on top..

This is the easiest that I have found..