Chicken litter

[pathwayholding]

I'm just getting into this chicken raising thing...I got everything I need to set up a brooder box yesterday. I'm hoping to get it set up today and get some chicks ordered.

I know I'm suppose to use paper towels as litter in the brooder box stage. What do you use after that? I read you can use pine needles successfully. That would be a freebie for me. Does anyone know of any reason they would be a bad idea? How about shredded newspaper?

path

[sbemt456]

Path I have never used pine needles myself but see no reason not to. I use straw, dry lawn clipping(un treated and un sprayed of course), wood shavings would also be good. I personally dont use too many wood shavings due to the fact we use the manure for compost and wood shaving supposedly use a lot of the nitrogen to break down.

Good luck with your new endeavor! It is so fun to watch the little fuzz balls grow.

stella

[MadTripper]

We use wood shavings. They work well.

[pathwayholding]

Thanks for the replies. I think I'm more nervous about raising these chickens than I was my kids. Hubby couldn't make me get rid of the kids...

path

[annabella1]

I was just reading that used chicken litter made good goat feed, but it didnt say what kind of litter. I also wonder about this because goats wont usually eat anything that has touched the ground. Any body have any experience in this area?

[pathwayholding]

Anybody know the difference between pine needles and pine straw? My pines are short needled. Not sure this would work although the deer bed in it all the time. Maybe I can just use an inch or so of it on the coop floor under the pine shavings (which I'd have to buy).

path

[High_Desert]

I am trying something new called "Dry Bed" it is a primarily designed for horse bedding but the local feed store has reported good results as a chicken litter.

I am only 4 weeks into it so far....

HD

[pathwayholding]

HD,

What's your opinion of it so far?

path

[High_Desert]

I like it so far. It is supposed to excel at odor reduction too.
I have dropping pits under my roosts, so its going to take a while to get a good read, but it is holding up really well so far. The litter is only in the main area with the feed and water. About 5' x 8'.

HD

[pathwayholding]

Okay, so I'm realllly new at this...we're planning on putting the chickens in a converted shed. Do I have to put bedding on the entire floor or just under the roosting areas? And what do I use in their nesting boxes?

path

[bookwormom]

it sounds like you are spending money to put on the floor. If you have a lawn, dry grass clippings will be just dandy, and add some green grass, too, the chicks love it.
I love those big sheets of cardboard that appliances come in, (we get them at Lowes and Home Depot) . Especially under the roost I put a sheet of cardboard down so it will catch the droppings. when it is cleaning time I just grab on and pull the whole sheet out. Then put down a fresh one. I do not put any litter on top of the cardboard. for the new babies , any of them, goslings,, ducklings, chicks, we have never used paper towels. some hay off the barnfloor, dry grass clippings.
to clean just dump on the compost and put new in. I notice husband has started to use a big empty mineral tub to keep the few little chicks in that hatched. If we get luckier with the next hatching we may use a watering tank.

Quote by annabelle
I was just reading that used chicken litter made good goat feed, but it didnt say what kind of litter. I also wonder about this because goats wont usually eat anything that has touched the ground. Any body have any experience in this area?


??? ??? not my goats. but they do try to get into the chickenhouse and eat the chickenfeed.
Husband has made a picket gate for the chickenhouse so the door can be left open and there is cross ventilation, the chickens can get out but the goats can not get in.

[CountryKitty]

I use lawn clippings myself.

Whatever you do, don't use fallen leaves! Someone on another forum lost a whole bunch of chicks and finally did an autopsy on one--the crop was full of indigestible leaf veins. Poor thing had been unable to fit anything else in its crop and had starved.

[walls0stone]

Great Tip! I won't have birds near trees, but it's very good to know. Say, when do chicks eat bus and litter more than corn?