How often do you change out the bedding?

[goodolsurvival1]

we just got out buff orp chicks friday... we are using pine shavings and they are in a rm. tub in the house (we have snow here still), the hubby grabbed white heat light so first night very noisy chicks (he thought it was red when he grabbed it),, we have now switched to the red heat light much happier chicks... but anyways how often should you change their bedding stuff? there is 6 of them it doesn't look to bad (no real smell heck any at all) i figured maybe here in a day or so, or do you change it once a week or every day?

thanks

 

[Twistedfeather]

What I would do is take some latex gloves and each and every day pick out all the poop that you see, it then expands the life of the shavings like you wouldn't believe.

 

[justplainbatty]

we just got out buff orp chicks friday... we are using pine shavings and they are in a rm. tub in the house (we have snow here still), the hubby grabbed white heat light so first night very noisy chicks (he thought it was red when he grabbed it),, we have now switched to the red heat light much happier chicks... but anyways how often should you change their bedding stuff? there is 6 of them it doesn't look to bad (no real smell heck any at all) i figured maybe here in a day or so, or do you change it once a week or every day?

thanks

It might be easier right now to put paper towels over the litter and change daily. Once paper towels aren't doing the job, use just the shavings. you'll know when to change the litter, trust me!

 

[goodolsurvival1]

It might be easier right now to put paper towels over the litter and change daily. Once paper towels aren't doing the job, use just the shavings. you'll know when to change the litter, trust me!

id be afraid of them shredding or pretty much moving the paper towels when they scratch the litter up... they are big foragers already and we play a game with them that when they get some of the littler moved instead of just pecking at the plastic we take some of the food and put it there they actually stop and wait and watch us do it and then peck away they get the area cleaned of food in less then 2mins lol... the kids enjoy it and enjoy when they are out and come up onto their legs to perch.... they put a plastic barbie couch in for them along with the long large leggos they built them a perch with lol... its funny to see the chicks sit on the plastic couch and they actually climb on the leggo perch. the shavings we got is in a package about the size of a hay bale and got it for like $5 we prob will have some left by the time snow clears and they are able to go out in the coop when they are old enough and have feathers.

two of them i had to cleaned their butts when we got them home was afraid of their vents getting clogged. but one still has some dried on the fur (i dont know what their feather/hair is classified right now till they get their feathers so we call it fur lol) it isnt preventing it from pooping but is there an easy way to get that cleanned off it a warm wet paper towel isnt working. and it could just be me but id just rather have a clean chick lol (this way it can stay healthy).

also how old do they need to be till you are able to give them some treats (plain yogurt or something like that)? do you do treats once a week or once a day?

thanks everyone for all the help, its been really fun so far with the chicks and a great learning thing with the kids, hope they carry on with it and see how important it is , easy , and fun to having backyard chickens so they do the same (if they can) when they are older. we like to teach a little self reliance with our kids.

 

[azygous]

Pick up some puppy training pads. They're great! No shredding and they stay in place better than paper towels, which chicks usually try to eat.

You can dispense with the puppy pads by the fourth day or so, when the chicks are firm in their knowledge of what constitutes food.

As the chicks grow, so do the poops, and I just pick them out of the litter like raisins on the bran flakes.

 

[justplainbatty]

id be afraid of them shredding or pretty much moving the paper towels when they scratch the litter up... they are big foragers already and we play a game with them that when they get some of the littler moved instead of just pecking at the plastic we take some of the food and put it there they actually stop and wait and watch us do it and then peck away they get the area cleaned of food in less then 2mins lol... the kids enjoy it and enjoy when they are out and come up onto their legs to perch.... they put a plastic barbie couch in for them along with the long large leggos they built them a perch with lol... its funny to see the chicks sit on the plastic couch and they actually climb on the leggo perch. the shavings we got is in a package about the size of a hay bale and got it for like $5 we prob will have some left by the time snow clears and they are able to go out in the coop when they are old enough and have feathers.

two of them i had to cleaned their butts when we got them home was afraid of their vents getting clogged. but one still has some dried on the fur (i dont know what their feather/hair is classified right now till they get their feathers so we call it fur lol) it isnt preventing it from pooping but is there an easy way to get that cleanned off it a warm wet paper towel isnt working. and it could just be me but id just rather have a clean chick lol (this way it can stay healthy).

also how old do they need to be till you are able to give them some treats (plain yogurt or something like that)? do you do treats once a week or once a day?

thanks everyone for all the help, its been really fun so far with the chicks and a great learning thing with the kids, hope they carry on with it and see how important it is , easy , and fun to having backyard chickens so they do the same (if they can) when they are older. we like to teach a little self reliance with our kids.

That's really cute, the barbie couch and lego perches! Every one has a different idea for chick litter management. Sounds like your chicks are fine the way you have it. Like I said, you'll know when to clean it. As far as poopy butt in their down, I get a small trickle of warm water going in the sink, holding the chick in one hand and with the other, getting my fingers wet and kinda soften, wash and pick it out by hand. It only takes a few minutes back under the brooder lamp to dry that little tiny area.