Rethinking the use of Dry Den

[ORChickFam]

We use dry den for our buns. I love every little thing about it, so I choose to use it with the chickens. However I have found that for the past 3 days, their toes get covered in poop. Which I then sit on the floor next to the brooder with a hot tub of water and give them pedicures about 2 or 3 times a day, then scooping up as much of the soiled dry den as I can.

Now I know I'm a total noob at chicken life and it sounds silly but would pine shavings decrease the built up poo on their feet? Or is this another "fun" part of owning chickens and I just need to learn to deal.

 

[StarChicken]

I have 19 chicks that are five weeks old and they can manufacture chicken poop with the best of them! Since I've had them, I've put pine shavings in their brooder and have had no trouble with nasty feets.

In fact, I went to Tractor Supply to get bedding and they had it stacked almost to the roofline! And . . . it is surprising how long one bale of that stuff will last! One of the staff told me they stock it for baby chicks.

I just spread it about an inch thick on the bottom of the brooder.

 

[StarChicken]

Oh, and by the way, I clean my brooder floor at least once a week. I have an old plastic accordion door that the brooder sets on. Since it's about 4'X6', I just get in with the chicks, transfer them to a plastic tub and then sweep everything up and Hubby takes it to the compost heap.

 

[newmarch2014]

We only use pine shavings too, the chicks love to dig through the shavings so if it is a couple inches deep they are cleaning their feet continuously. The Brahmas still need a pedi every other day or so but the Easter Eggers with their bare feet do just fine. Also as they kick around it covers the yuck so when they do step there is usually some wood on top. You may know but worth repeating since someone new reading this may not know.....never never cedar chips.

 

[StarChicken]

Yep, my "chicken expert" friend told me to go to Lowes and get the stuff they had there. It had cedar in it and I used it a few days. Thankfully I read in one of the threads that cedar isn't good for them, so I have a bale and almost another whole one.

Anybody know someone with hampsters?

 

[ORChickFam]

Not sure about hamsters but I know cedar's not good for cavies or buns either. Will hit up our grange when they open tomorrow because trying to give pedicures to 17 chickens with a ton of kids running around almost sent me to the looney bin tonight!

 

[song of joy]

Yep, my "chicken expert" friend told me to go to Lowes and get the stuff they had there. It had cedar in it and I used it a few days. Thankfully I read in one of the threads that cedar isn't good for them, so I have a bale and almost another whole one.

Anybody know someone with hampsters?

I have heard that cedar is OK to use in nest boxes, and actually acts as a pest deterrent, so you may want to keep it around for your laying hens.

 

[newmarch2014]

Cedar is bad for the respiratory for all age chickens.