Brooder Cleaning....

Relle · **Posted:** Tue Sep 16, 2008 10:11 pm

Hi all,

I have just had my first ever hatch using an incubator..... :-D

So far I have had 28 chicks hatch :-D

......But my problem is that the incubator is stinking terribly and I have 3 eggs still peeping so I can't clean it out yet so I've been told.
when I clean the brooder with the chicks in it within about 10 minutes it is soild badly already. I had saw dust as a base but they tried to eat that so I covered it with some really large chux cloths. This seems really unhealthy. I guess I'm asking if this is normal or do I have really messy chicks???

glenn · **Posted:** Tue Sep 16, 2008 10:48 pm

Hello Relle
Is your brooder big enough to handle that many chicks. :?:

I hatch about 20 at a time and my brooding cage is 1.5m wide x 1.8m long l place the lamp in a corner, use sawdust on the floor and the food on a flat tray that has a small lip so the chicks can walk on. They do peck at the sawdust to start with but soon know the difference between that and the food. Hope this helps

Relle · **Posted:** Tue Sep 16, 2008 11:31 pm

HI Glen,

The brooder I have is professionally made and they said it will keep up too 40 chicks in there at a time.......but the measurements are 80cm x 50cm and this was the large brooder!! So it is A LOT smaller than yours and it does sound like I have a lot of chicks in it. I will only be left with 15 chicks tomorrow as my neighbour is taking some, so that should make it a bit better.
Thanks for your help Glen.

Relle

fuzzfly · **Joined:** Wed Apr 09, 2008 10:42 pm **Posts:** 253

I have various layers. I lay newspaper first, then a thin layer of ferret/rat litter (either recycled phonebook or coprice) and top it off with straw so they don't eat the litter, although it's never been a major issue.
I refresh it everyday to keep it clean.

It's not as bad to clean as it sounds as you can roll up the crappy litter using the newspaper base, sweep the rest up and refresh everything. I simply add more coprice for ducklings as they are really messy little devils.

I use a large plastic storage tub (approx 80 x 60cm) for about 6-8 chicks at a time with a reptile heat lamp. The rest of my chicks are raised with mum, they seem better adjusted when raised naturally.

Relle · **Posted:** Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:35 am

Thanks Fuzzy Dragonfly,

It sounds like I have over populated the brooder. :oops:

I am having to replace the bedding twice a day min.

The storage tub sounds like a really good idea, do you have a lid on it, or do you keep it open?

Thanks for the reply

Relle

debbieo4914 · **Posted:** Wed Sep 17, 2008 9:26 am

Hi Relle,

I know some people don't like wood shavings (as opposed to sawdust, which is finer) but I have raised all my chicks on that as bedding from 1 day old and have not had any respiratory problems, choking, eye problems or any other health issues. It is very absorbent, is textured so a lot of poo just falls straight down where the chicks don't walk in it and doesn't get smelly very quickly at all. I find it especially good for feather-footed chicks as you don't want them walking through poo all the time (as in on chux or newspaper) as it sticks to their foot feathers and builds up quickly if you don't change the bedding often enough.

All my chicks are bantams and even though they are tiny they seem to cope really well on this bedding.

The only trick is to put feeders and waterers up on a brick or a paver so the chicks don't kick shavings all through them (especially the water as the shavings can absorb all the water so the chicks are left with none to drink).

Good luck with finding a solution that suits you.

Deb :-D

Relle · **Posted:** Wed Sep 17, 2008 9:23 pm

Hi Deb,

Thanks for the tip with the water getting absorbed by the shavings.

I have taken out the chux and just have the saw dust in there now and it is soooo much better, not so dirty and smelly.
Next time I'll try the wood shavings as I have Brahma's with feathered legs.
Thanks for the reply Deb.

Cheers
Relle

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