Wood pellets as bedding

[Alyssandra]

I am at a point trying to decide what to use on the floor of my coop...are the pellets a good choice for that...and if they are what do you do with them when you clean out the coop...and how often do you clean out the coop?

 

[computer_chicken]

I think I will try all pellets when I spring clean the coup. I have used all pine shavings from TS in the past, during the winter I mixed 2 bags of pellets with the shavings. Seemed to confuse the hens at first but they got used to the mixture quickly.

 

[eponagirl]

I'm telling ya...everyone should convert from shavings to pellets

...not heard anything negative about them so far!

 

[mediazeal]

Quote:
Well, the pellets do break down to sawdust when they get wet
They have been perfect for a brooder but I think the pine shavings will be better for deep litter method.

They can kick it around in the coop to their hearts content, I just didnt' like it in the house/brooder.

 

[NancyDz]

I've used the pellets for years for my guinea pigs ... they are awesome. I dont use them in my coop but i do use it in their nest boxes, chickens seem to like it. It definitely lasts longer and smells better than shavings! The one I get at my feed store is called ABM - Animal Bedding Material.

Nancy

 

[eponagirl]

mediazeal, I must admit, these are my first chicks and we are finishing up our coop now. I've read about other people on this list using pellets in their coop and seem to like it, but it sounds like you had a different experience? Just curious if you tried the pellets in the coop and then didn't like them so switched to shavings? (want to get opinions on both and so far heard nothing bad about pellets)

 

[sangel4you]

How often do you end up changing the pellets in the brooders?

 

[Garden Gal]

My DH and I just finished our first brooder yesterday and can't wait for our chicks to hatch this Saturday!!

I too am curious as to how long the pine pellets can be left in a brooder, and when changed, is the entire batch tossed or some removed and then more added?

ANY detailed advice for us who have never been here before would be greatly appreciated! Many thanks!

 

[eponagirl]

Perhaps more experienced people will chime in too, but here's what I've been doing:

There is a nice layer of pellets in the brooder. In the morning and again before the chicks "bedtime" (at dusk) I "stir" up the pellets especially where they poop most over night. It moves the pellets around and allows the poop to move toward the bottom or get mixed in more with the pellets to keep things cleaner. Every other day or so, I add a fresh layer of pellets and sprinkle in some Stall Dry. I also check their water several times a day and keep it free of any pellets/poop they kick in there (they scratch around the brooder all the time). Refill food as needed and play with chicks.

After three weeks I decided to take out some of the poop/pellets mix at their sleeping (most poop) spot and add fresh ones. I don't think I really had to do this, but in the smaller brooder, thought it couldn't hurt.

That's all there is to do!

 

[sangel4you]

so I went to my feed store today and they dont have any sort of pellet bedding :-( bummer..... she said not many people use it...if it's really that good, I don't see why not!