NON DUSTY chick bedding

[kuchchicks]

Ok folks I have a problem. I am hatching out a ton of chicks right now. Currently using pine shavings as bedding. But it is creating a horrible dust problem. I have to find a new bedding that will not create a layer of dust on everything! Suggestions?!!!! HELP!

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Just about every bedding will create some dust. You could use towels, but that'd be a lot of washing. Even if you go with towels, the chicks will still be sending feather dander everywhere. Darned if you do, darned if you don't!

The best solution is to stop brooding in your house. Consider making a large hutch outside with a heat lamp. Then they can make as much dust as they want

I've had chicks in my outside brooder in temps as cold as single digits, and they do great!

 

[kuchchicks]

We do have 2 outdoor broilers that we use. The problem I ran into is that we really ramped up our hatching. We have run out of room in the broodies and don't want to take the risk of newly hatched getting stepped on by older chicks. Thanks tho!

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Ahh, I totally understand how that goes! Maybe some paper pellet cat litter would work better. I know they break down when they get wet, which could lead to dust eventually, but if they're kept dry they shouldn't produce much. Just a thought.

 

[tiedyechick]

I use puppy pee pads in the brooder

 

[kuchchicks]

The pee pads are a good idea!

 

[Dubrovnik]

Ok folks I have a problem. I am hatching out a ton of chicks right now. Currently using pine shavings as bedding. But it is creating a horrible dust problem. I have to find a new bedding that will not create a layer of dust on everything! Suggestions?!!!! HELP!

I am using shredded newspaper in the brooder. If you use wood chips the chicks may eat them with fatal results. Some people use straw.

 

[kuchchicks]

How absorbent do you find the shredded paper to be? How often are you changing it out? What about odor?

 

[Dubrovnik]

How absorbent do you find the shredded paper to be? How often are you changing it out? What about odor?

My chicks aren't hatched yet, but I plan on changing the paper litter daily and using it as mulch in the garden. That should keep the odor down in the brooder. I may switch to straw litter when the chickens are bigger. I'm going to have less than 12 chicks this time, because I am incubating a dozen Trader Joe fertile eggs.