Play sand in the brooder ok? not ok?

[bburn]

Just asking....

 

[WalkerH]

We have this play construction sand that we use. I haven't had an issue with it so far. Although at Lowes I have noticed that the content varies. One time it will be almost strictly fine sand and the next it will have quite a bit of rocks in it. But I do like it, make sure you invest in a reptile poo scooper, rather then a cat one and also a spade comes in handy since the sand is to water absorbent. Make you change it out after a couple weeks, I usually change it out at least every two weeks, although it is usually every week.

 

[chicknbuns]

I just put sand in mine a week ago. It is much easier to clean!! I left a small tray of shavings in there just in case they wanted to snuggle down and they do use it. Good luck

 

[bburn]

Well....I just put it in there. In a square container they can't tip over.....then I worried.

They jumped on it like 'the hand' had been holding out on them. I had one chick that had a little 'stuff' on his backside. I have wet papertoweled it a couple of times and then I got worried that it was pasty butt and had read that they need grit to keep that at bay. Plus if they use it for dust bathing all the more better.

Thanks ya'll!!

 

[PetRock]

We use pine shavings in our brooder but I put a flat rectangle pan of all purpose sand in there for grit and play. They love digging in it, napping in it, pooping in it, etc. It is easy to clean and cheap.

 

[Reyvaughn]

I personally did not like the sand. If you have your brooder inside your house or on an enclosed porch, be prepared for all the dust. You know that smell at the beach? Like fishy water and decaying seaweed? Mix that with chicken poop. I went back to shavings in less than a week.

 

[bburn]

I did not want to use it instead of pine shavings....I wanted it in a dish big enough for them to get into and peck around and fluff in....it is working nicely and they seem to love it.

 

[BooBear]

Chicks love it and it is so cute watching the baby chicks take their first dust bathes in it. I take a frisbee and fill it with sand to give them and they have a blast.
As soon as they are a bit more feathered then they graduate to a bigger brooder which they get a bigger sand box to play in.

 

[pauren34]

I just put sand in a small dish for my 2 week olds. They went crazy about it, not playing in it but eating it. I took it out because I was worried. Is it okay for them to eat sand (go crazy eating sand). I know they need grit but can they over do it. This was the first time I put sand in the brooder.

 

[bburn]

Quote:
That was why I asked....but I put it in a dish that is flat on the bottom and filled it so they can't turn it over.....four or five can fit in it.