Potting Soil for Brooder

[Hecate]

I liked using it since there was nothing in it that the chicks couldn't eat - it all went through the system with no problems if they got some litter while pecking at spilled feed!

 

[Kung Foo Chicken]

Often I use composted pine needles. There is a stand of pines at the edge of our property about 50 yr old and the finely ground pine particles underneath really soak up moisture without ever really getting messy.

 

[jossanne]

My parents brooded their chicks last summer in their pump house using peat moss. It worked great for the chicks, but their pump house was a disaster from all the dust! They have shelves in their with some yard tools and storage, and it all had to be cleaned up quite a bit.

 

[Kansas Chicken Mama]

Just wondering how often do you have to add to or change out the potting soil?

 

[tdgill]

i keep trying to use the pine shavings in my brooder pool, but the darn chickies act like its the best yummy and promptly gobble a piece down. so i dump it all back out again. still on newspaper with paper towels....i like the dirt, peat moss, idea also! i also wondered about using pine needles...

 

[newchickenfamily]

Great idea....I'm brooding chicks in the house for awhile and I'm so sick of the stinky paper towels! They tear them up into stinky bits in no time. The potting soil would satisfy a few different issues! I have a 6 week old "house chick" who keeps trying to dust bathe in the paper towels! She'd love some dirt me thinks!!

 

[hollyk]

This is a really good idea! Right now I have old leaves and hay in the brooder and added wood shaving to the top. The chicks promptly scratched and mixed it together. If I add potting soil, I will have some kick-butt garden compost! Of course counting in all of the wonderful chick poop. My wonderful husband built me a huge brooder box in the coop, so dust is not an issue. The older hens free range all day long only returning to lay their eggs and sleep.

 

[Hecate]

I added new soil and stirred things around when it was looking in need, but never actually dumped anything til they were in the coop. Then the whole lot went into the compost. I never had much of an issue with smell - though by the time we started using the soil, the brooder box was in a well-ventilated shed. We had quite a bit of chick dust built up on the items stored in the shed, too - but at least it wasn't built up in my laundry room!

I wish I could remember where I saw the idea - I think it was a suggestion in The Encyclopedia of Country Living by Carla Emery (always a great resouce!).

 

[birdbrain2]

anyone know what is more expensive, potting soil or pine shavings. i can't remmber what I paid for my shavings put i have a huge bag. I am getting tired of shavings sticking to my sleeves every time i reach in my brooder. plus i think my 2 week olds are eating a little bit of the shavings. but if the cost is going to be twice as much maybe not.

and would it compost faster sense the poo is in soil or would i still have to let it rest for a year.

 

[tdgill]

I guess some stuff is better for composting than others... i wonder if pine needles have too much acid for your typical compost? i do know azaleas love pine needles because of the acid, and I suppose you can treat acidic soil/compost anyway...(is it with lime?) I thought the needles would be too pointy...then wondered about mowing them over to break them up some...what are composted pine needles really? but peat moss or some other kinda stuff sounds cool too ... i like the leaves idea too since i have plenty of those around.

it seems like it ALL ends up making a mess, but then what could be more worth it???
I just know that MY CHICKS (only one brooder tho!) were eating too much of pine shavings.

has anyone ever used SHREDDED newspaper? I would think you'd have to have a good cushiony bedding of it so it wouldnt be slippery..please don't try it without researching first. and also not the best composting material....

too much coffee....