Newbie question -- do I take them out to change the paper towels?

[debilorrah]

Since we never had every many at a time, I took them out and put them in my pockets while I changed it.

 

[addicted2chicks]

I have only had my chicks now since yesterday morning. I have 52 chicks in each brooder so they do make quite a mess and I had to change my paper towels 3 times yesterday. What I did was put a few layers of paper towels down first then I peeled a layer off throughout the day. This morning thou I had to actually change the last layer that was down so I moved the brooder lamp to the other side of the brooder and they moved over to the other end, I changed the paper towels then moved the lamp back to where it was and changed the paper towels on the opposite end. I am going to be taking the paper towels out completely on my next change. They discovered there was pine shavings under the paper towels and so they are trying to dig it up so I think it is time to let them be on it.

 

[cmom]

I have raised all of my chicks in this wire brooder. There are catch trays under the brooder with shavings in it. Also a tray in the brooder with pine shavings in it for the chicks to scratch, peck in and sleep in. The water and feed stays clean. I have never had any problems with their feet going through the wire and they grow so fast.

 

[smokeater413]

The brown paper ( I don't think butcher was the proper name of it) I believe we got at tsc, the chicks had no problems walking on it. The reason I stated butcher paper is because it remined me of butcher paper in that it was brown and that in came in large rolls and you tore off just what you needed. It worked really well and was easy to put in due to the thickness of the paper and was easy to remove for the same reason.

 

[needtohatch]

Quote:
This is what I plan to do if I can talk hubby into it

He thinks what I have now is fine (old dog crate). I say I need something bigger and easier to clean!

 

[Brickman House]

We raised 23 last year and 20 this year, and both times I just worked around them.

They'll move away from where you're working, so I just rolled the dirty paper towels up from one side of the brooder to the other (we brood in Rubbermaid tubs), and roll down clean ones from one side to the other.

Very easy!

 

[Kari]

I never had to move mine, they all ran away screaming.

 

[banter]

Quote:
Best way to do it-good luck with your goslings!

 

[geareduplyn]

Get a bag of pine pellets for bedding. The paper towels are just to scatter feed so they start eating. 12 hours for the paper towels is probably enough less time if they are visiting the feeder sooner.

 

[Bock_Bock]

Quote:
i do this exact same thing as it takes less then a 2 minsa as the paper towls if you lay them right they will roll strait up trapping all food and poo and anything else on the paper towles then just set a new layer or 2 and walla la a fast bedding change