Sand bedding in the brooder?

[Fool]

I have a handful of day old chicks that are going to shipping the end of February. I had seen a post on here about using sand instead of shavings for bedding material. I am thinking of using sand in the brooder. It would be easy to clean and greatly reduce the fire hazard (we know someone that burnt their house down last year while brooding chicks). Is there a reason to not use sand for bedding?

 

[TGarcia]

OMG!!! that scares the crap out of me....I've always worried bout that ever happening!!!! I don't see why sand would not work.....someone that may know more can let you know any reason it is not good to do so.

 

[Judy]

Sounds fine to me. too. Probably people use pine instead of sand as it controls odor a little better. Personal choice.

 

[TGarcia]

yeah.. I agree....I tried paper towels one time and it did not keep the smell down and I was going through paper towels like crazy when I used those. Maybe with the sand you can kinda scoop it out like litter. Plus it depends on if they are inside or outside too.

 

[Birdcrazy]

Fire hazard is one of my biggest worries -- the school brooder caught fire 'cause of that .... (chicks were saved) ....
But would sand be hard to clean up, especially when they get bigger and the mess increases?
Once when some friends travelled back home with some four week old ducklings to add, they used actual kitty litter for a bedding and to keep the smell down, but I guess that may be too expensive to use? I think they sprinkled a little bit more on each time it became a little too messy

 

[Mama2B&D&...Chickens]

I don't think you are supposed to used kitty litter with the babes b/c they'll eat it

but the sand should be fine..if it works? it's like extra grit

right?