Ideas for using sand in the brooder (w/ pics)

[FuzzyButtsFarm]

What a wonderful idea.

Why didn't I think of that.

I just resanded the stalls in my barn and stored the leftover in a 12 x 12 stall a foot and a half deep. I'll never have to buy shavings again. This is grade A white sand with very little dust. I ordered secondary sand but they were out and I got it for the same price. Such a deal.

 

[Jen F]

Awesome! I'm a newbie and need all the help I can get. Thanks

 

[wistlindixie]

I love, love, love this idea!

 

[mordarlar]

Quote:
As log as they eat the food too i don't think it will hurt them. Mine are 10 days old now and they also ate a fair amount of the sand. They are doing great. I think some of the scratching and pecking is kinda of like play/practice too and not so much eating.

 

[mordarlar]

Thank you everyone. I am still really impressed with the sand. Mine are 10 days now and all are well and the sand really helps handle the increased mess.

****

Quote:
Thanks for the idea of mixing in some soil. Did you also sift out the waste? I am wondering if that works with the soil added.

****

Thank you so much nanawendy!!!

****

*DuckLuvR* :

This is a great idea. I'm getting my first bunch of chicks in two weeks. So play sand it is. May I ask what kind of brooder light you are using? I'm curious since you mentioned the sand gets really hot.

We are using a 250W heat lamp. We actually have two set up in slightly different areas and we were alternating them to let one area (and lamp) cool. But the weather has been warmer and the chicks are older so we've been turning the light off for intervals during the day so it doesn't get too warm for them. I've noticed that they really like the warm sand after it has cooled a bit and they will all converge on it to catnap.

The other thing, i am sifting the box a couple times a day and the sand gets shifted quite a bit and that also cools it.

Still, in a smaller brooder, really care should be taken to make sure they do not overheat.

****

Quote:
Honestly, i just don't know the first thing about ducks. Maybe someone here could answer that for you.

 

[donnavee]

Found this post doing a search on using sand in the brooder and I'm definitely going to try it this year. I have used pine shavings, OK but needed changing a lot. Last year I tried the wood pellets which were OK until some water got spilled - then they swelled up and made a total mess. This year it's sand and thanks for sharing!