sand substrate

[tennesseequail]

I use a litter box system under my cages, with sand, so I can just use a cat liter scoop toclean the, It makes myclean ups soooooo easy, but my brooder is the question

Can the babies have a substrate in the brooder of sand? I have never used sand in the brooder (the older ones all haves dust boxes with it though..also where we hide mealworms lol) I only use playground sand, and have never had issues with it, but if I made a new brooder (which was already in the plans) can I use a substrate of sands, and clean it the same way?

 

[Ebony Rose]

I brood the first week on newspaper while the chicks learn about food, and frequently fall unconscious (deep sleep) at the drop of a hat. I'm always afraid that they'd do one of those nosedives and suffocate themselves in the sand at that tender age. The second week I switch to sand. You should be able to put fresh sand in the brooder the day before you expect chicks and cover this with a few layers of newspaper, when the paper becomes unsightly, simply roll up the top layer, essentially folding all the mess inside. The day you roll up the last of the newspaper you'll already have sand in place and ready to go.

 

[tennesseequail]

But my scoop system will work in the brooder?

My first week they spend in a big tote and then 2 to the brooder

 

[tennesseequail]

Do u use a scoop to clean also?

 

[Ebony Rose]

I don't, I just scoop it out and toss it. I didn't like the ammonia smell after a few days, and cleaning the sand was more work than I cared for.