Mama Heating Pad in the Brooder (Picture Heavy) - UPDATE

[mobius]

Sell that bag of DE....somewhere out there is someone who thinks it will be beneficial to their animals and will pay for it.

Sweet lime can be found at most garden centers, like Lowe's. There's a difference between regular garden lime and caustic lime, so pay attention when you buy...the caustic lime is just that and shouldn't be used around humans or animals at all, if it can be avoided. Sweet lime is regularly used on gardens and compost piles to "sweeten" the pH of the mix.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lime_(material)

You won't need it at all if you just incorporate a good deep litter system in your run where the addition of new materials will absorb excess moisture and the depth of the litter can trap moisture in the bottom layers while wicking it away from the topmost layers, making for clean and healthy footing for your birds. It's never too late to start a deep litter system in your run....I'd get started on it today. Though, I will tell you this...folks who have used DE on their litter will often find a "dead" layer there where nothing much is happening in the way of composting, bug life, etc. But, you can compost right on top of that dead layer and eventually it won't matter at all.

Good discussion!...when you say sweet lime, is that the dolomitic lime? So many limes, so confusing...grrr. I have started "composting" in my run....about 3-4 inches of pine duff and raked up yard waste on top of top soil with some gravel at the very bottom...sort of replicating the "forest floor"...the girls are moving it around where they want it...thoughts? I will research more...are the little (3 inch long) pine cones okay?

 

[ShrekDawg]

Sell that bag of DE....somewhere out there is someone who thinks it will be beneficial to their animals and will pay for it.     Sweet lime can be found at most garden centers, like Lowe's.  There's a difference between regular garden lime and caustic lime, so pay attention when you buy...the caustic lime is just that and shouldn't be used around humans or animals at all, if it can be avoided.  Sweet lime is regularly used on gardens and compost piles to "sweeten" the pH of the mix.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lime_(material)

You won't need it at all if you just incorporate a good deep litter system in your run where the addition of new materials will absorb excess moisture and the depth of the litter can trap moisture in the bottom layers while wicking it away from the topmost layers, making for clean and healthy footing for your birds.  It's never too late to start a deep litter system in your run....I'd get started on it today.  Though, I will tell you this...folks who have used DE on their litter will often find a "dead" layer there where nothing much is happening in the way of composting, bug life, etc.  But, you can compost right on top of that dead layer and eventually it won't matter at all. 

Thanks for all the great info!! I think I will definitely sell it!

I'll have to look into the lime but first I'll just start the deep litter. Hadn't realized I could use it even over the existing run so I'll definitely get started right away!!

Thank you!

We use DE alot in our grain bins. So if you have a local farmer they would happily buy it. It is also used by some cattle farmers, they use it to dust the cows when fly season gets really bad (we do not, because it only lasts until it rains)
I personally do use it in the birds "winter coup" it is the barn with the cement floor. I put it under the straw. But everyone is correct DE is terrible if breathed in. Even with the mask DH wears, it still leaves him with a horrid cough for a couple days after sweeping the bins.

Thanks!! Maybe someone will buy it then

 

[ShrekDawg]

Good discussion!...when you say sweet lime, is that the dolomitic lime? So many limes, so confusing...grrr. I have started "composting" in my run....about 3-4 inches of pine duff and raked up yard waste on top of top soil with some gravel at the very bottom...sort of replicating the "forest floor"...the girls are moving it around where they want it...thoughts? I will research more...are the little (3 inch long) pine cones okay?

Don't know what bee does but when i initially heard of the method i was told to put about 3 inches of wood chips down then 3 inches of leaves, grass, all that other stuff. Although just recently someone suggested deeper is better so I think I may go even deeler but yeah. I too am hoping to replicate the forest floor

 

[Islander11]

Neat idea, Gonna try this. Any tips?

 

[Beekissed]

Good discussion!...when you say sweet lime, is that the dolomitic lime? So many limes, so confusing...grrr. I have started "composting" in my run....about 3-4 inches of pine duff and raked up yard waste on top of top soil with some gravel at the very bottom...sort of replicating the "forest floor"...the girls are moving it around where they want it...thoughts? I will research more...are the little (3 inch long) pine cones okay?

additive made from pulverized limestone or chalk. The primary active component is calcium carbonate. Additional chemicals vary depending on the mineral source and may include calcium oxide, magnesium oxide and magnesium carbonate.

I'd make it thicker than 3-4 in. if you really want it to work well...try 10-12 in. in the run and 6-10 in. in the coop. Those pine cones are fine...they will eventually compost and they will create good air spaces in the mass to promote good composting.

There are two really good threads on DL here on BYC that has a lot of information on it.

I rarely ever use lime in my coop and when I do it's more to add minerals to my compost before I use it on the garden....but it can slow down composting so use it sparingly if you are just starting out and want a good compost going.

It's not too bad to place under nest bedding, though, and discourages little bugs that may be hiding there.

 

[mobius]

I'd make it thicker than 3-4 in. if you really want it to work well...try 10-12 in. in the run and 6-10 in. in the coop. Those pine cones are fine...they will eventually compost and they will create good air spaces in the mass to promote good composting.

There are two really good threads on DL here on BYC that has a lot of information on it.

I rarely ever use lime in my coop and when I do it's more to add minerals to my compost before I use it on the garden....but it can slow down composting so use it sparingly if you are just starting out and want a good compost going.

It's not too bad to place under nest bedding, though, and discourages little bugs that may be hiding there.

Many many thanks, I will be off researching, and as I am cleaning up the yard this spring, I am now bucketing up all the stuff and throwing it in the (brand new) run...chicks seem pretty happy with it and their new 3 inch diameter pine branch run roosts deposited on the ground over winter just for them (!).....Now back to your regularly scheduled programming!!

 

[dyorto]

Now I'm heading over to research deep litter/bedding methods. Spring is finally going to feel like it's starting after today. Excited to prep and get the new coop ready and get these chickies outta the house to enjoy it

 

[Beekissed]

Deep litter applies especially to this thread on raising chicks....for wanting healthy chicks that get a good exposure to your existing environmental pathogens, fungi and other microorganisms, at the time when they need them the most~the first few weeks of life, and in the absence of a mama to give them proper exposure, the deep litter in your coop can provide that to subsequent chicks you may get after first establishing a flock.

A good ol' chunk of sod is nice and can provide some of this, but unless it's out of your chicken run where your older birds live, it most likely won't have most of their germs. I brood my motherless chicks right on the DL in my coop where my big birds live so they get a good exposure to my flock's various germs. If not brooding in your coop, you can take some of your older, composted DL and inoculate the chick's bedding with it for the same results.

I don't use medicated feeds....the old litter is doing the exact same thing but in a more healthy manner. The biggest mistake most new chick owners make is keeping chicks indoors until they are 4-8 wks old, keeping their bedding changed out frequently, trying to keep them in too sterile an environment for their own good. Then, one day they move them outdoors and are surprised when~after feeding medicated feed and all~they have a group of birds with coccidiosis and needing meds to survive.

Start them out day one outdoors, on the soils and bedding they will be living on and I'd be surprised if you ever lost a chick or had any that came down with coccidiosis or respiratory issues.

 

[mamatink7]

I've been reading so many things about DE: nesting boxes, dust baths, use in scratch & I'm sure you ladies will add to it of course. Lol. BUT do we really need it? I am running to TSC and they have a mix of it in which I will buy it this week if I need it prior to coop living
Also, about the mama pad. What is the wire rounded to house the chicks and pad made of (chicken wire, hardware wire...)? I saw how large and I'm sure if I end up hatching my own eventually, I could make it larger if need be. How high should I make it and how much weight can the top withstand? As another lady here mentioned her littles like to snuggle on top as well.
Mind you, I MAY do this for the older ones (2.5wks old) into coop brooder while we have a new set of littles & before putting them together when they're the same size and little older-naturally.
Oops apologize for the book, still new here and so many ideas...
Hugs and thx in advance

 

[Beekissed]

I've been reading so many things about DE: nesting boxes, dust baths, use in scratch & I'm sure you ladies will add to it of course. Lol. BUT do we really need it? I am running to TSC and they have a mix of it in which I will buy it this week if I need it prior to coop living

Also, about the mama pad. What is the wire rounded to house the chicks and pad made of (chicken wire, hardware wire...)? I saw how large and I'm sure if I end up hatching my own eventually, I could make it larger if need be. How high should I make it and how much weight can the top withstand? As another lady here mentioned her littles like to snuggle on top as well.
Mind you, I MAY do this for the older ones (2.5wks old) into coop brooder while we have a new set of littles & before putting them together when they're the same size and little older-naturally.
Oops apologize for the book, still new here and so many ideas...
Hugs and thx in advance

Short answer? NO. DE is most definitely not necessary or even beneficial for chicken life.

I'll let Blooie answer the rest of those questions.....they vary from person to person.