Official BYC Poll: What Bedding Do YOU Use in The Brooder?

[gardenofgood]

I use the pine pellets. LOVE THEM! No smell, last a while. turn to a crumble if they get wet but the crumble itself is basically dry....

I switched to pellets due to TS being out of my usual. Much easier to clean coop, not as heavy as shavings or chips.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I use flaked, pine shavings. Used to use news papers for years, but switched.

 

[Imataken]

We use puppy pee pads for about 2 weeks or so then use hemp it's what works best for us with the chickens and the ducks after trying so many other things

 

[Devorah]

When they are still very tiny (under 2 weeks old) I use puppy pads. Once they start learning to scratch etc I keep them on pine shavings. It's always worked, I've never had an issue and it works great. I wish I could keep them on puppy pads the whole time but they scratch that top layer off and try to eat the moisture absorbing stuff inside, not a good thing!

Anything under the pine shavings in the brooder?

 

[Iluveggers]

Anything under the pine shavings in the brooder?

I keep puppy pads under the shavings in the brooder. Just rolled up the pads, dumped the shavings in the compost, and can reuse the pad in the bottom if it wasn’t too soiled. If it was, just replace with a new one topped w more shavings!

 

[Sylie]

Anything under the pine shavings in the brooder?

I keep the pee pad on top of the pine shavings until they are old enough that I have to take it out and then, No, I keep the shavings deep enough that it isn't necessary to put anything under them. Also, I brood in a HUGE, clear plastic bin with a hardware cloth lid so if they spill their water, there is no mess, just scoop out the wet, use a paper towel to dry the bottom (usually there isn't any wetness in the bottom anyway because I use approximately 4 inches of pine shavings) and replace the shavings. 3 or 4 minutes work tops.

 

[TamiP]

I keep a supply of blocks, bricks, and pavers that I use to constantly raise the feed and water as the chicks grow.

Me too! It was the best thing I ever figured out!

 

[3KillerBs]

Me too! It was the best thing I ever figured out!

DH laughed when I carefully picked up the broken blocks after our house was placed on it's piers but I find them quite useful for the chickens.

 

[TOPChickens14]

This is a thread to discuss what bedding you use! I've seen tons of different beddings/floors for chick brooders, such as shavings, pellets, puppy pads, sand, newspaper, drop cloths, paper towels, straw, hemp... I'm sure the list could go on and on!

It's easy: Just post what bedding you use in your poultry brooders, and why!

Rules - Please read, there aren't that many, and it will only take a couple seconds of your day.

• All BYC rules apply
• Keep it on topic-pictures of your floof babies are ok, as long as there's bedding in the picture, but let's not talk about your siblings axolotl here
• Be kind, and respect each others opinions
• Don't judge
• Have fun!

That's it! Post away!

For the first 5 days or so of owning chicks, I use layered newspaper. Then I switch them to shavings. The newspaper is much easier to clean in those first few days because you can just roll it up and toss it. I switched the pine shavings because, the chicks can scratch in it (they try to scratch the newspaper, and it's hilarious), and it is more comfortable for them.

 

[3KillerBs]

For the first 5 days or so of owning chicks, I use layered newspaper. Then I switch them to shavings. The newspaper is much easier to clean in those first few days because you can just roll it up and toss it. I switched the pine shavings because, the chicks can scratch in it (they try to scratch the newspaper, and it's hilarious), and it is more comfortable for them.

I have always read not to use newspaper because it's slippery. Have you ever had any issues with splayed legs?