Raising Keets on Sand?

[Beccatrix]

I came across someone on FB who broods keets on sand. She starts warming it 3 days before they arrive. If anyone has tried this or has thoughts, I'd appreciate any knowledge!

 

[R2elk]

I came across someone on FB who broods keets on sand. She starts warming it 3 days before they arrive. If anyone has tried this or has thoughts, I'd appreciate any knowledge!

I live on a sand dune. The sand is free for the digging. I use sand as my brooder bedding. I turn on the brooder heater at least a day before I move keets to the brooder. If the sand is really wet, I will start heating it sooner. I have a GQF brooder heater that I have connected to a Thermostat with a remote sensor. I have the sensor right at the bedding level and set the controller to 90°F for the first week.

 

[Beccatrix]

I live on a sand dune. The sand is free for the digging. I use sand as my brooder bedding. I turn on the brooder heater at least a day before I move keets to the brooder. If the sand is really wet, I will start heating it sooner. I have a GQF brooder heater that I have connected to a Thermostat with a remote sensor. I have the sensor right at the bedding level and set the controller to 90°F for the first week.

Thanks! Sounds like I might have a cleaner house than I did with the chicks and waterfowl upstairs on pine flakes!

 

[R2elk]

Thanks! Sounds like I might have a cleaner house than I did with the chicks and waterfowl upstairs on pine flakes!

If you do it in the house,you will still have dander everywhere.

My brooder is in a sectioned off area in the back of my main coop. The guineas have their own coop.

 

[Beccatrix]

If you do it in the house,you will still have dander everywhere.

My brooder is in a sectioned off area in the back of my main coop. The guineas have their own coop.

The turkeys and guineas will have their own shed and run (likely separated until spring due to age differences). Our chickens are in a shed and the waterfowl have a large lean to, each with their own runs. We raised everyone in a bathroom up for full remodel, including walls, floor, and ceiling, but after the remodel, never again!

 

[Sydney65]

If you do it in the house,you will still have dander everywhere.

My brooder is in a sectioned off area in the back of my main coop. The guineas have their own coop.

Glad this came up as it reminded me - @R2elk - As much as I wanted to after talking to you,, going w/sand in the beginning wasn't feasible w/the set up. With the expansion, I decided to go with sand in the run. Ofcourse as soon as I had a good bit down, all the warnings started about coccidia thriving in sand and dowsing everything w/bleach as a preventative.
Rather than panicking I told myself I'd ask you abt it, bc surely if this were an issue you'd either avoid it or know how to mitigate it.
1/2 of the run is covered w/a tarp, so stays fairly dry. The other 1/2 isn't covered as of yet, but even with all the rain we've been getting, doesn't stay overly wet. With their scratching around and acrobatics, it stays clean with a scoop here and there. - and if this were an issue, wouldn't it be removed as a recommended dustbath ingredient?

 

[R2elk]

Glad this came up as it reminded me - @R2elk - As much as I wanted to after talking to you,, going w/sand in the beginning wasn't feasible w/the set up. With the expansion, I decided to go with sand in the run. Ofcourse as soon as I had a good bit down, all the warnings started about coccidia thriving in sand and dowsing everything w/bleach as a preventative.
Rather than panicking I told myself I'd ask you abt it, bc surely if this were an issue you'd either avoid it or know how to mitigate it.
1/2 of the run is covered w/a tarp, so stays fairly dry. The other 1/2 isn't covered as of yet, but even with all the rain we've been getting, doesn't stay overly wet. With their scratching around and acrobatics, it stays clean with a scoop here and there. - and if this were an issue, wouldn't it be removed as a recommended dustbath ingredient?

I live on a sand dune. I have no choice but to have all my poultry on sand all the time.

I never have mud. Sand drains very well. I have never had a problem with coccidia but I live in a low humidity and dry climate. Last month I had 0.10" of measurable rainfall. This month it is also at 0.10". This is not conducive to having coccidia problems.

I use sand in the brooder because it is free for me. My sand is blow sand which has many different sizes of grains in it. Others that have to buy sand have had problems because the washed sand they buy is too fine and can plug keets up if they eat too much of it.

 

[Sydney65]

I live on a sand dune. I have no choice but to have all my poultry on sand all the time.

I never have mud. Sand drains very well. I have never had a problem with coccidia but I live in a low humidity and dry climate. Last month I had 0.10" of measurable rainfall. This month it is also at 0.10". This is not conducive to having coccidia problems.

I use sand in the brooder because it is free for me. My sand is blow sand which has many different sizes of grains in it. Others that have to buy sand have had problems because the washed sand they buy is too fine and can plug keets up if they eat too much of it.

This is whatever they use to line septic fields- far from fine, very gritty with pebbles and even rocks in it. Did not have in brooder, keets are 7 wks tomorrow. They do peck in it but they aren't on 24/7, bc it's not in coop.