Sand and kitty litter in Broder

[LOLH]

I just had a couple Pea chicks hatch out and I made a display brooder for them. And I was wondering if I could use sand or kitty litter in the base just for easier cleanup. I guess my question is has anyone used either before? Or does anyone have any other suggestions?

 

[staceyj]

I think they’d eat it. They don’t know any better in the beginning.

At least for the first few days I cover the bottom of my brooder with paper towels or clean paper.

 

[LOLH]

I did cover it with paper towels. They just seem not to be able to get a good footing on the paper towels and thoughts would be better for them as far as walking around.

 

[KsKingBee]

We use large flake pine shavings for the first two weeks.

 

[Criticalicious]

When you say kitty litter, I assume you mean the non-clumping kind because the clumping kind would kill them if they ate it, and chickens eat almost anything they can fit in their mouths. Paper towels laid flat on the bottom until babies are eating and drinking and walking around well (5-7 days) then large flake pine shavings.

 

[LOLH]

Thank you all for the help. I think that's what I'm going to do is leave the paper towels there for now and we'll see in a few days how well they're doing. That is assuming the other three pop out of their eggs. This little chick was just a little early.

 

[Birdsong 82]

For the first few weeks are use aspen shavings. I’m not too sure about the sand but I definitely wouldn’t feel comfortable with kitty litter. Kitty litter is made with clay so if they eat it. Can’t be good and there’s so much dust involved I can’t think it would be good for them to Breathe that in either.

 

[casportpony]

I use towels.

 

[KsKingBee]

I have lost a couple of chicks from impacted crops. Necropsy showed a crop full of sand in both cases. That was only two out of hundreds of chicks but it happens. Cat litter is mostly bentonite and will cake up like clay if eaten.

 

[Birdsong 82]

I have lost a couple of chicks from impacted crops. Necropsy showed a crop full of sand in both cases. That was only two out of hundreds of chicks but it happens. Cat litter is mostly bentonite and will cake up like clay if eaten.

Full of sand?! That’s scary. Glad I’ve never tried to sand in there. But that’s the problem with chicks They will take it and eat just about anything at first. And I could see sand and litter looking like feed to them