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

[Lemon-Drop]

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!

(Check out more Official BYC Polls HERE!)

 

[nrs3]

Don’t know if this is listed under another name above, but I have always used flake pine. Not sure if this is best, but it’s what I have on hand because I use it to bed the coop.

 

[Sylie]

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!

 

[SilverBirds]

I normally use straw/hay because that's what I use for everyone else. Occasionally I have pine shavings or something of the sort but rarely.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

You have "sand" twice in the poll also, please add "Flaked Pine Shavings"

 

[Lollychicken]

I just use shavings. The chicks can scratch around and explore in the shavings (not that they will find much). And it's easy to clean, as you can just tip it in the yard and it won't harm anything

 

[RubelliteRose]

I use puppy pads for the first few days and then switch to pine shavings.

 

[Iluveggers]

I use puppy pads for the first few days and then switch to pine shavings.

Me too. I picked puppy pads because that’s the very first thing I use. But after a week I switch to pine shavings.

 

[junior67]

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....

 

[NatJ]

First day or two: paper towels (for non-skid footing) over a thick layer of newspaper (for absorption)

After that: same as adult chickens, varied according to time of year and availability. I like dry leaves, but have also used hay, straw, pine shavings, sawdust from pine pellets, material scooped from the compost pile, occasional shovels full of dirt, clumps of sod, etc. The usual result is a mixture, not just one type or another.

I have raised chicks outdoors, or in a barn or garage. I also prefer a LARGE brooder, ideally 4x6 feet or more for even a few chicks. Many of my bedding options are too dusty to use inside a house, and they may get scratched around enough to cause trouble in a small brooder.

(I chose "other" in the poll.)