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

[h2ocutiegirl]

I use either blankets or the horse bedding g pellets.

 

[Shezadandy]

For the first 3-4 days I put down several layers of high quality paper towel so the moisture gets sucked away from the top layer and I can see the poop easily and spot any issues. After that, pine pellets.

 

[3KillerBs]

Hmm.... I'm in Australia so maybe it's available only in down-under?

I looked it up, they have it in the US, I just never noticed it before. Maybe it's more common in Australia?

Many things are locally available or locally abundant.

I don't use pine straw in the brooder because it's not particularly absorbent, but I do use it in the coop -- free for the raking in my yard.

You can buy baled pine straw readily in this area, but outside the US Southeast it's either unavailable or an expensive specialty product.

 

[TXKukupantsKoop]

Paper towels the first 3 days then I switched to pine shavings from TSC. They told me to use the shavings instead of the flakes.

 

[Kingbobkingdom]

I'm sorta curious about pine shavings. I've used it for adult ducks in their shed, but never tried it on babies. Is there anything I need to know before possibly using it in the brooder?

 

[3KillerBs]

I'm sorta curious about pine shavings. I've used it for adult ducks in their shed, but never tried it on babies. Is there anything I need to know before possibly using it in the brooder?

If I can get them I use the large-flake kind so that it's harder for them to mistake their bedding for food.

I also cover them with paper towels for a few days until I'm sure they understand that their feed is what they're supposed to eat.

 

[ChookieG]

I looked it up, they have it in the US, I just never noticed it before. Maybe it's more common in Australia?

oh rite i c. Yeah they've got it in every hardware and feed store.... so I guess it's pretty common here.. not too expensive either..

 

[getaclue]

I use the Rubbermaid waffled shelf liner, cut to size. It gives them sure footing. I get several from a roll, so it's easy to put a new one in, and wash and dry the soiled ones.

 

[Boppo]

I have started mine on paper towels and then switch to pine flakes or shavings, whichever I can find, in that order of preference.

 

[ILChickenTV]

I usually use pine, but I have a local millworks that has shavings coming out their ears practically begging me to come take more.