Shavings In Brooder

[chickerdoodle]

I never thought of pellets instead of shavings. Can you use the cat litter pellets made from newspaper? We'll be needing a brooder for about 3-5 chicks next spring and this seems like a good idea--especially keeping the water shavings free!

 

[Chicken Fruit]

I've tried the cat litter ones made from paper- I found they were absorbant, but did not dry out- instead they fermented and stunk. And they would wick the water out of the waterer. That is my BIGGEST pet peeve with chicks.

The pellets lasted longer than the litter, and it was cheaper. You could use the horse bedding- if you cant find anything else, i just liked the size of the other. But it wouldnt be a big enough difference to choose litter over pellets if thats all you can get a hold of.

 

[Wynette]

I for one do not like pellets; I do use them for my horses, and I'd love to just have one type of bedding to use. But, they're hard. I like my chooks to have the nice, soft shavings under foot. And, I don't find shavings to be any less absorbent or stinkier than pellets, either. I've tried them a few times in my coop, and I just don't care for them for chickens. To each his own, though!

 

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

Quote:
NO - Wood stove pellets are made out of hardwoods and may have additives to aid in burning.

Go with the ones manufactored for animal bedding.

 

[ShaggysGirl]

I seen the pellets but I was worried they'd eat them as they do look like food. My older chickens are now on pellet food.

 

[Highland Moongazer]

I've been using cat litter pellets (Feline Pine, in this case) for the brooder, mixed with shavings so it's a bit softer. It does a heck of a lot better than shavings alone, but isn't as hard as just the pellets.
The horse pellets sound like a good idea for the coop, though.

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

OK, I went to TSC and picked up a bag of the Cozy 'n Fresh pellets to try them out. Thanks for the replies and advice on this. While I was there I took advantage of the $2.00 off coupon for the Purina feeds.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

I used to brood the chicks in large cardboard boxes or those rubbermaid bins with shavings. But they would knock shavings in the water and it would act as awick and soak all the other shavings. I started brooding my chicks on wire this spring, and have not had any problems. Its a coated wire. It keeps the brooder cleaner, the water cleaner, and it is alot easier to clean the brooder.

This is what I use. http://www.tractorsupply.com/pet-care/small-animals/small-animal-cages-habitats/ware-manufacturing-large-rabbit-hutch-2179342

I have 2 of them. Got them a TSC when they were on sale for $99 each.

All you do is remove the metal droppings pan, and clean that out everday or every other day.

 

[The Sheriff]

Dumb question alert:

Can the used pellets be added to the compost bin when cleaning the coop?

Mary

 

[Akane]

Pellets do still have some of the volatile oils. They are made from pine and other softwoods the same as shavings. They are just treated more and heated longer so more of the dangerous oils are evaporated. They could also cause the same problems as pine shavings/sawdust (they are pine) if alot is ingested. However usually not much can be ingested because the pellets are way too big until they start to break down. They don't usually break down into sawdust for quite awhile. They can be disposed of or used the same as shavings. Again they are the same thing just finer, treated with heat, and then smashed together into a pellet.

Alot of stove pellets are safe to use. You just have to check the label. Make sure no accellerants are added to make them burn faster and if you aren't confident reading the packaging don't buy them. Some people on small pet forums use them for guinea pigs and rabbits if they don't have a feedstore around to get the ones sold for livestock bedding.