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

[Ilovemychicks08]

I use pine shavings. I just wish it was less dusty.

 

[TOPChickens14]

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

Yes, the newspaper is slippery. I have seen them slip on it before. Fortunately, no splay leg though. I have gotten 2 hens that came with malformed feet. One's outer toes are pointed outwards. On the other one's left foot, the toes are all smooshed together. They both function fine though. Sometimes the one with the smooshed toes limps or has trouble jumping on things but she is alright.

 

[TOPChickens14]

I use pine shavings. I just wish it was less dusty.

I think dander from the chicks also factors into the dust levels. What I do is if I am putting them in the brooder in the house, I hang a blanket in the doorway (because there isn't a real door). That confines the dust to the one room. I also have to vacuum the whole room about once a week.

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

I think dander from the chicks also factors into the dust levels. What I do is if I am putting them in the brooder in the house, I hang a blanket in the doorway (because there isn't a real door). That confines the dust to the one room. I also have to vacuum the whole room about once a week.

They are out in the coop now since they are 8 weeks old. But were they are in our house we cant hang a blanket up.

 

[igorsMistress]

Pine shavings or straw. Pine smells good, is reasonably priced for the amount you get and is light weight/easy to use.

Straw for all the same reasons except it doesn’t smell good like the pine. It’s not as absorbent as shavings but I brood imagine the coop rather than a brooder.

 

[SeaCity]

I brood out in my run, directly on the deep litter, with a sprinkle of aspen shavings on top just to make for a softer sleeping space under the heating pad.

I know this set up isn't for everyone, but I can't see setting up a brooder any other way. Nearly no cost (a few handfuls out of a bag of shavings is a minimal expense) and zero clean up. Even setting up is pretty easy: kick loose litter into a big pile, dragging the brooder on top of it, and that's about it.

Here's a decent look inside it, right after I "cleaned" by dragging it across the run.

View attachment 3069344

I think it's awesome! Too cold here still, so mine are stuck inside for now.

 

[ChookieG]

Organic Sugar Cane Mulch - It's much finer so easier to pick out their poop without wasting too much of the clean bedding. Also because it's organic and chicks are very curious creatures, I am assured they're not swallowing anything too toxic for their little bodies..

I also use this type of mulch for my nesting boxes as the girls can form nice little nests as they're so fine compared to straw..

 

[Lemon-Drop]

Organic Sugar Cane Mulch - It's much finer so easier to pick out their poop without wasting too much of the clean bedding. Also because it's organic and chicks are very curious creatures, I am assured they're not swallowing anything too toxic for their little bodies..

I also use this type of mulch for my nesting boxes as the girls can form nice little nests as they're so fine compared to straw..

Interesting! I had never heard of Sugar Cane Mulch before!

 

[Prop toe]

I never use litter for biddies .Just had 1/4 hardware cloth I made my brooders 4 ft x8ft x2 ft high on legs 2 ft off the ground.Had a 6 inch drop on the top and had a closeable bottom on hindges.close to keep warm on cold days and opened on warmer days.All droppings and anything else small enough could fall through.This made it easier to clean also.Cheers

 

[rjmyooper]

Is this for chicks only? I would think (IDK yet) that Ducks wouldn't be able to tear up puppy pads as easily as chicks.
I plan on using straw and pine shavings for Khaki's, but I also happen to have puppy pads that I could use.