Best bedding for baby chicks in brooder?

[paneubert]

I don't want to say this will be everyone's experience, but for me, with the paper bedding, I smell NOTHING coming from the brooder. I am going on 2 weeks here without changing any of the bedding. They are in my living room. So just one shout-out for the paper bedding.

 

[Twoleggedmotherhen]

I use pine shavings with potty pads on top. Layer 8 potty pads on top, roll up dirty layer, clean brooder. Chicks are 2 weeks, has worked out great.

 

[Mo'sMenagerie]

For me, puppy pee pads for the first couple days, then recycled paper bedding.

Never thought of using this product. Have you noticed the chicks trying to eat it at all? And I wonder if there is less dust made with the recycled paper bedding? Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

 

[Ms Clucky]

I used newspaper, paper towels over the top of that then a bunch of their feed on top of that. That way the only thing they eat is food. They were eating to much wood chips when I was using them. After about a week I switched to wood chips. Worked very well.

 

[henless]

I use large flake pine shavings. I find the small shavings look too much like food & they tend to eat it. I have their feed & water on a large piece of wood (or cardboard). This helps keep the shavings out, and gives me a place to sprinkle their food around so they get used to eating the starter.

 

[paneubert]

Never thought of using this product. Have you noticed the chicks trying to eat it at all? And I wonder if there is less dust made with the recycled paper bedding? Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

They do not try to eat it. Even the smallest pieces are too large or fuzzy to eat. I also see way less dust. I believe they even say that on the package. Like a feature.

 

[blackdog043]

I use pine shavings from the time I get them. I have their food and water up on a platform. I usually hang fermented feed and grit.

 

[Farmgirl1878]

I’ve used both sand and pine shavings, but always start them on puppy pads with paper towels on top. I use a canvas and nylon puppy play pen for the first few weeks, them move them out to a chicken wire brooder in the coop.

The pros for sand include ease of cleaning, the chicks love to dust bathe in it, it’s great for their digestion, and if you mix in some PDZ, it’ll keep the stink to a dull roar. The pros for pine shavings are that they’re easy to find and inexpensive.

My coop and run are all sand, so I just go straight to that now with the chicks.

 

[LisaM18]

I don't want to say this will be everyone's experience, but for me, with the paper bedding, I smell NOTHING coming from the brooder. I am going on 2 weeks here without changing any of the bedding. They are in my living room. So just one shout-out for the paper bedding.

What bedding to you use? Which brand? I’ve heard mixed reviews on paper.

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

I haven't raised chickens before but my husband and I just ordered ten that should be born near the end of the month. I've been doing a ton of research (he grew up with chickens, but I no nothing about them) the last few weeks. I read a lot of information that stated that using river or construction grade sand is best both for chicks in the brooder and for chicken coops. Then, as I was researching something else I found people saying not to use sand and basically saying the opposite of what the pro-sand people had said. I'm just confused now and really want to do what is best and healthiest for our chickens. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

honestly, I usually use wood shavings, but if the incubator works this time (been using a stupid off brand of an off brand, finally decided to dust off my old incubator after a second failed hatch), then I might just use an old dish towel I have lying around. it would probably make cleaning the brooder easier.