INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[leslea]

If you use a kitty litter scoop to clean the sand, its not bad. You can also use the Sweet PDZ additive to help with any smell. I changed from the shavings to sand because it was less stinky at our house. I'm sure it all depends on the other variables in the setup as well. When I changed from a standard waterer to a water bottle with a nipple, the smell went way down from the reduction in water spillage.

I'm really sorry you are allergic to your chicks. The amount of dander they can produce is amazing! I hope you feel better soon.

Thanks.

I used a litter scoop and the sand was dry as a bone, but it still stunk to high heaven. I just couldn't take it. I might try the Sweet PDZ in the future, but for now I am back to pine shavings and that helps dramatically.

 

[ChickCrazed]

her are my chicks they are ees and two silkies what color you think the grey/blue chicks will be as adults

Very cute! I would think the Grey/Blue chicks would be Grey/Blue as adults

I haven't had nearly enough experience with chicks as many others, but my Blue Isbars were blue as chicks and are still shades of blue. My black chicks were black, my yellow chicks are feathering out cream colored and my brown chicks were brown as adults.

 

[hoosiercheetah]

Thanks.

I used a litter scoop and the sand was dry as a bone, but it still stunk to high heaven. I just couldn't take it. I might try the Sweet PDZ in the future, but for now I am back to pine shavings and that helps dramatically.

I did PDZ in a poop board for about a week and a half. The PDZ smells a little like cat litter, but there was no other odor. However, I started seeing head shaking and sneezing in a couple of the birds, so I dumped it and recovered the board with pine shavings. In a day the birds were fine again. My theory is that the dust was irritating them. But it wasn't all of the chickens, just two of them, one Black Orp and one EE who had issues anyway. I know a lot of people swear by pdz poop boards, so your results may vary.

 

[ChickCrazed]

I did PDZ in a poop board for about a week and a half. The PDZ smells a little like cat litter, but there was no other odor. However, I started seeing head shaking and sneezing in a couple of the birds, so I dumped it and recovered the board with pine shavings. In a day the birds were fine again. My theory is that the dust was irritating them. But it wasn't all of the chickens, just two of them, one Black Orp and one EE who had issues anyway. I know a lot of people swear by pdz poop boards, so your results may vary.

I used the pelleted pine horse bedding. I thought it kept the dust down quite a bit and is actually meant to absorb liquids and neutralize odor. It smelled very pleasant. It does eventually break down (it is meant to as it absorbs the liquids) but I was really happy with it. I would not hesitate to us it again if I was brooding a decent amount of chicks. Mentioning kitty litter. I wonder if anyone has tried using that as bedding, although I would be worried about it getting eaten. It is also designed to neutralize odors.

 

[bradselig]

To save me from having to google it, can anyone tell me the size of drill bit to use to install water nipples? I biught 20 nipples last year and have yet to do anything with them. I need to get started.

 

[ChickCrazed]

To save me from having to google it, can anyone tell me the size of drill bit to use to install water nipples? I biught 20 nipples last year and have yet to do anything with them. I need to get started.

It was either 1/4" or 1/2". How helpful am I?

 

[racinchickins]

To save me from having to google it, can anyone tell me the size of drill bit to use to install water nipples? I biught 20 nipples last year and have yet to do anything with them. I need to get started.

23/64 for screw-in, 11/32 for push-in

Some people use teflon tape as insurance against leaks, some don't. I didn't and haven't noticed any leakage.

 

[ChickCrazed]

Thanks.

I used a litter scoop and the sand was dry as a bone, but it still stunk to high heaven. I just couldn't take it. I might try the Sweet PDZ in the future, but for now I am back to pine shavings and that helps dramatically.

Can't you move them out to the garage? As long as they have their EcoGlow I would think they would be fine. Also, I am sure you will adjust somewhat once they are outside. You don't have to hold them or get them near your face, and your allergies should be fine. Wear a mask when working in the coop as M2H's suggested. I have horse allergies like crazy and manage just fine. If I spend a lot of time grooming them I sneeze like crazy, but it has gotten better over time and as long as I don't go weeks or months without being around them I maintain some level of tolerance.

 

[bradselig]

It was either 1/4" or 1/2".  How helpful am I?

Haha. Thanks for trying

[COLOR=333333]23/64 for screw-in, 11/32 for push-in   [/COLOR]

[COLOR=333333]Some people use teflon tape as insurance against leaks, some don't.  I didn't and haven't noticed any leakage.[/COLOR]

thabks. I knew it was an odd size. Most of mine are screw in but I do habe a couple I bought from rural king that are push in

 

[ChickCrazed]

Haha. Thanks for trying
thabks. I knew it was an odd size. Most of mine are screw in but I do habe a couple I bought from rural king that are push in

Let me try to be a bit more helpful here. Mine were screw in and I did use the teflon tape. I have not had any leaks. I also did not use the recommended bit size, I pretty much "winged it" and drilled in and then enlarged the hole by wiggling the bit around. So super scientific. But no leaks (miraculous). They were free buckets from the local bakery so I wasn't too concerned about mucking the project up.