Using an old towel in my brooder...

[Frozen Feathers]

For bedding, is this wise? I usually use paper towels, but I go through so many or pine shavings, but they are super messy. So I was thinking of using some old towels and then just shaking them out and throwing them in the wash every few days. Can anyone think of any reason not too?

 

[MandyH]

LOTS of chicken doo

 

[silkiechicken]

Sounds like it should work. I've done that with thoes rubber asorber towels no problem.. I wash them in a bucket outside though.

 

[Frozen Feathers]

Good point Silkiechicken....I haul out my washboard and scrub tub.

lol Yeah I really couldn't think of any reason not too...just wanted to hear it from some one else.

 

[MandyH]

ANgie, I was pickin' earlier about the chicken poo comment, That's a no brainer. I used an old towel once but ended up taking it out because their little toenails kept hanging in the towel and pulling. I didn't want them declawed or crippled.

 

[suburbanhomesteader]

I layered towel/dog food bag/towel/dog food bag (they have plastic liners) until I had built up about 6 layers. Then, I just peeled a layer off in the morning and again in the evening. I did it again, it worked so well, and got through the first week that way. Then it was on to shavings.

No problems with toes, but I put the "silky" side of the towels up; not the terry-cloth looking sides.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

I have used old towels in the bottom of my brooder without any problems...I keep 3 or 4 and just shake out the poo and wash in the machine...I found it doesn't get as dusty....after a few weeks is when I start putting shavings in to get them use to those.....I didn't have problems with their toenails picking on the towel....

 

[speckledhen]

Just make sure there are no strings for them to pull on and get wrapped around their tongues, but old towels are fine.

 

[Angelmom296]

For bedding, is this wise? I usually use paper towels, but I go through so many or pine shavings, but they are super messy. So I was thinking of using some old towels and then just shaking them out and throwing them in the wash every few days. Can anyone think of any reason not too?

I do that all the time. My chickens love towels. The sit on them and scrape n scratch like they are taking a dirt bath. Even the older chickens like them. I just shake off the scat and wash them. I give them damp towels in the summer to keep them cool.

 

[DobieClose]

I layered towel/dog food bag/towel/dog food bag (they have plastic liners) until I had built up about 6 layers. Then, I just peeled a layer off in the morning and again in the evening. I did it again, it worked so well, and got through the first week that way. Then it was on to shavings.

No problems with toes, but I put the "silky" side of the towels up; not the terry-cloth looking sides.

Clever. Like when one of my kids was a bedwetter, we’d layer a plastic sheet first, ten a normal fitted sheet. Top that with another plastic fitted sheet which was topped by a regular fitted sheet. Kep going a couple of more layers like lasagna.
If she wet the bed she didn’t have to tell anyone else. Just yank off the fitted sheet and the plastic sheet and put it in the wash cycle.