How Often.....

[mommto3kiddos]

How often do you change/fully remove all of the litter/pine shavings in your brooder?

From day 1 I have did a complete clean out every evening, but Im going through 2 bags a week of pine shavings now that the girls are both in 2 bigger brooders.. If its not poop covered is it ok to let it go 2 days instead of one? Just wondering everyone routine.. Thanks

 

[chicmom]

Hello Suzie-

This really depends on the size of your brooder and how many chicks you have in it.......Now, last year the most chicks I had at one time was six, and I changed the brooder out completely, once a week. But this year, I have 14 chicks, so I'm changing it about every fourth day. (I can't stand poopy smells.....)

Don't waste your money.........Did you every hear the saying "A little dirt never hurt anybody?" Well, it's the same for chicks.....They actually need a little dirt in their environment (my personal belief) so they won't be sensitive to everything once they go outside.......

Hope this helps,
Sharon

 

[sben451]

I have 11 chicks in one brooder. I usually change out the pine bedding about 2-3 times a week. If it looks dirty and smells bad, change it. But I don't think it's necessary to change it every day. It's more of a common sense thing.

 

[mommto3kiddos]

Well I feel like an idiot.. I have 6 teeny tiny bantams in one 20 gallon tub and 6 (3 week old) RSL & Leghorns in a great dane dog crate and Ive been changing the litter out completely everyday..

 

[columbiacritter]

Once a week or 10 days, depending on the chick load. If I'm crazy busy and it's lookign dirty I dump more shavings on top. I've had 1 chick in 6 yrs with pasty butt and no losses after the first 3 days.

 

[sben451]

Not to worry. No harm done. Now you can save a little on the bedding. Don't you just love all the interesting things you can find out on BYC?

 

[mommto3kiddos]

Im glad I finally asked..lol I kept seeing these HUGE brooder with lots of chicks and was thinking "wow they go through alot of shavings changing that everyday"..

 

[chicmom]

Quote:
Well now, don't be so hard on yourself! No job can be done too well, ya know? But now, you'll save a little money and time as well!

 

[mcjessen]

I have three chicks in a Rubbermaid tub and scrape off the top layer of shavings daily. Just enough to get as many droppings as possible. I add more shavings (1/2 a coffee can scoop) every couple days and completely clean it out on Sundays. That's the plan anyway. LOL! I've only had them a week. LOL!

I have my pine shavings in a standard Rubbermaid trash can (35 gallon, I think) and only half of the bail of shavings will fit at one time. Where are you buying your shavings? I got a huge bail at the farm store for about $9. I can't remember the cubic feet of it though - it was big and heavy.

Advice - don't buy your shavings at the grocery store. I did and ended up taking them back because 10 cubic feet of shavings was $17. WAY overpriced.

 

[TheSitcomGirls]

I change mine when it starts to smell like chicken poop......chicken poop smell in the house is not one of my favorite things!