Chicken Feed As Litter

sharky · Jan 28, 2010

Originally Posted by TimeForAction

I am very much finding, at least at this early point, that the 'crushed variety for the youngest of baby chicks' had great clumping ability.

And I did not even need to transition over gradually, at least for my two feature creatures. Both were quite amenable to an 'immediate' change.

Now my only worry is will it smell with time

(but 3 days in, not bad at all!), and will little crawlies and rodents find themselves enticed by the 'freebie food'?

I love good deals. Thanks for the feedback thus far.

Do not leave the clean or dirty litter in say a garage ... if you follow that you should be free of the undesired creatures

strange_wings · Jan 28, 2010

Indian meal moths are pretty good at getting in anywhere, but they're just as likely to get into your cat food or dry goods.
I raise mealworms for reptile food and have to constantly combat the meal moths. I have yet to find them showing much interest in my litter boxes. I think if any eggs are laid in there the constant stirring up and cat pee makes it rather inhospitable to them.

As for other grain pests; grain mites can be an issue. BUT if you have these it's likely they came in the bag to begin with. They can be rather difficult to avoid in any grain source that sits. (including bird seed) I've had issues with them in premade cricket foods, premade worm foods, and one bag of crumbles. You have to look very very closely whenever you open a bag up. If you see any sort of movement either leave it outside for the birds to eat on or take it right to the dumpster.

I reuse old tidycat litter pails to store the chicken crumbles in.

atinsley · Jan 31, 2010

I don't quite get this... I buy arm and hammer 40 lbs for 12.99 which breaks down to 32 cents a pound... 50 lbs of chick feed at 15 bucks works out to 30 cents a pound. Is litter just more expensive for you guys?

sharky · Jan 31, 2010

Originally Posted by atinsley

I don't quite get this... I buy arm and hammer 40 lbs for 12.99 which breaks down to 32 cents a pound... 50 lbs of chick feed at 15 bucks works out to 30 cents a pound. Is litter just more expensive for you guys?

For me a 20-25lb of clay clumping litter is 8-11$ or for a 40-50 lbs it is 16 to 22 $ .... 20lbs of clay last a week so say 40 lasts two weeks with five cats.. 32 to 44 $ a month

chicken feed is 12-15 $ for me for 50lbs which last s with my five 3 -4 weeks ... Chicken feed has a lighter volume thus you get more per lb in a box... 20 ish a month

clay litter in a 18 gallon box about 20 lbs

chicken feed in 18 gallon box about 10 lbs

even at just two cents a lb ... that is a 12.00 a yr savings.. For most way way more...

strange_wings · Jan 31, 2010

Largest clay I can get in town is 27lbs at around $10-$15 (depends on sales) - though usually it's $15.

The chicken feed I get is $9.87 for 40lbs.

I can get better deals on clay litters out of town if there's a sale at walmart, but we don't go to that town that often due to our schedules.

Main reasons, though, is Tomas's issues with clay dust and that I can't get an unscented in town that even really clumps.

atinsley · Jan 31, 2010

Thanks for the insight guys

timeforaction · Jan 31, 2010

I too am finding that it seems to take much less of the corn mix when clumping. And with the more finely ground stuff (for very young chicks) I am also finding it can be cleaned out of the box so much more easily without breaking up. With clay it feels like you are lifting out 'lbs' at a time on some occasions. These pee lumps seems to be quite compact. So far, so good. I can see a bag lasting quite a long time for my 2 cats. (I am buying a 25 kg bag which is just a little over 55 lbs.) So about 12 or 13 bucks for me, but it will last so much longer, by the looks of things. After switching from clay, which left a consistent 'dust' in my laundry room on everything from the floor to pipes etc. And trying 'mop' up clay dust just seemed to make it even messier, with a grey film all over the floor. Corn ... less dust in the air, thereby easier to sweep up. It is not smelly at all one week in, and if need be in winter it is flushable as it is food grade. I just break up the pee clumps into even smaller ones as I dump it in the toilet. No clogging, but to be safe, I leave it a minute before flushing. In spring, I will add it to my compost pile.

mschauer · Feb 1, 2010

Originally Posted by atinsley

I don't quite get this... I buy arm and hammer 40 lbs for 12.99 which breaks down to 32 cents a pound... 50 lbs of chick feed at 15 bucks works out to 30 cents a pound. Is litter just more expensive for you guys?

When comparing litters you need to be careful how you do the comparison. Just comparing 2 litters based on price per like weight doesn't tell the whole story.

For instance, on the surface, World's Best litter seems hideously expensive. But when you consider that it weights half as much as a like amount of clay litter that effectively cuts the price of WB in half. Then when you consider that a pee clump of WB is much smaller than a pee clump of most clumping litters resulting in less litter getting removed and thrown out at every scooping that effectively reduces the cost of WB by making it last longer. Finally, WB clumps better than a lot of other litters resulting in the remaining litter in the box staying cleaner longer. Again reducing the effective cost of WB.

I tried using chicken crumbles a while back and after a couple of months went back to WB. Even after the above things being taken into consideration, WB is still more expensive but not by as much as it may seem. For me, that the litter box stays cleaner longer was the deciding factor in switching back to WB.

timeforaction · Feb 5, 2010

Originally Posted by mschauer

I tried using chicken crumbles a while back and after a couple of months went back to WB. Even after the above things being taken into consideration, WB is still more expensive but not by as much as it may seem. For me, that the litter box stays cleaner longer was the deciding factor in switching back to WB.

I can happily say thus far that the more finely ground corn feed is working very well. I do clean it faithfully a couple times a day, and I did add a little bit of baking soda but for the most part, not likely enough had made a huge difference. It is still 'smell free'.

The urine clumps, although soft if going after them too soon, become firm enough to handle easily when left a while. (I'd say 10 minutes or so should suffice.)

I love that I am not handling heavy, dusty, dirty clay any longer. And even though the cats do bring a little out onto the cement floor, it sweeps up like a charm. No more dust laden floors and dust on everything else that needs constant wipe down.

I do know that there are other litters out there that work well if not better in some ways (I never tried World's Best but I do like Arm and Hammer Natural Essentials). But for my money, the chicken feed is working just fine and meets my budget, helps maintain my patience, and seems to be acceptable to kitties X 2.

timeforaction · Feb 22, 2010

Well, one month later, I am still very happy with the corn mix for cat litter.

I find it does not build a smell, and is easy to clean out of the litter box. The few 'small pieces' which fall behind on occasion are very easy to spot and it takes no effort to clean it out. And although there is some tracking upon leaving the litter box, it sweeps up much easier than clay, and does not leave the 'dust film' on both floor and other surfaces in the basement like clay. And mopping the floor does not leave the swirls of wet clay dust smeared into the floor surface. Even if it gets as far as a carpet, it is light and is pulled up easily into the vacuum.

And the price is right. The bag seems to be lasting forever, with two cats.

cadnil · Jul 17, 2010

I see a science fair project in the making here. Which litter clumps best? Which has the least odor? Do cats have a preference?

Does anyone have a child gutsy enough to try it out?

seasonedwthsalt · Aug 31, 2010

Hi,

I am glad that I found you guys! I have used every cat litter out there including some that you can only get online. None have been what I need. I am using plain alfalfa pellets right now. It's works great......EXCEPT.....the pellets are a little large, and it doesn't cover poopy. The alfalfa neutralizes the urine odor for me. I get it at Tractor Supply, and every other time I go to get it they are out of it. This last time my husband bought BestCob. It's a horse bedding made from corn cob. It's very light, but I'm not sure I like it. My problem with WBCL was the horrible burned corn smell. I keep my house clean, but with 5 litter boxes in my house I hate that corn smell. So, my question is, does the chick feed smell like WBCL? I sure hope not because I'd love to try it.

Thanks so much,

Wendy

cat_crazy · Sep 13, 2010

Originally Posted by NinaBaby

I thought I would just start a new thread with this. To those that use or have used chicken feed as cat litter I have a couple of questions:

1. What type/kind of chicken feed is best to use (specific brands/companies etc..)

I don't think it really matters. I've only used one brand, because that's the only available one at the local feed store, which is Purina Start and Grow (chick feed). I find chick starter feed works better because it has a smaller particle size and absorbs faster.

2. I read somewhere that it will form weevils if not stored properly, so how do you store it?

I store it in an air tight bin in the garage. Never had a problem with weevils.

3. Does it have clumping properties? And can you flush it?

It clumps just as well, if not better then WBCL. You most certainly can flush it. Let it sit for a few minutes to break up the clumps.

4. How does it compare to WBCL

Better. Chick feed doesn't smell like burnt corn. It smells kind of sweet. It's cheaper and works just as well. I add baking soda for odor control.

5. Is it dusty? And tracks?

Slightly dusty. Nothing bad though. Tracks less then WBCL.

Thanks!!

Answers are in purple.

gdon · Apr 18, 2013

VERY late response, but, anyway....it's not about the weight, it's about the VOLUME. Crumbles fills so much more cubic area. Also, spreading baking soda on the bottom of the pan gives a bit of hardening effect to those little pee towers. And, like previously said, tilt the loose litter to the back to expose them and it's easier to scoop. discount stores like Family dollar have the b.soda for cheap. Thats all for my 2 cents. Happy scooping y'all

dmcasper21 · Apr 8, 2014

If you have trouble with bugs put a little Diatomaceous earth in with the feed, no more bugs. Just make sure and bye the food grade

marsch21 · Apr 13, 2014

We used to use WBCL but switched to Sweatscoop after a breeder friend lost a litter of kittens to aflatoxin mold.

http://truthaboutpetfood.com/caution-to-use-of-corn-based-cat-litters

lilman · May 7, 2016

NinaBaby said:
I thought I would just start a new thread with this. To those that use or have used chicken feed as cat litter I have a couple of questions:

1. What type/kind of chicken feed is best to use (specific brands/companies etc..)

2. I read somewhere that it will form weevils if not stored properly, so how do you store it?

3. Does it have clumping properties? And can you flush it?

4. How does it compare to WBCL

5. Is it dusty? And tracks?

Thanks!!

lilman · May 7, 2016

I tried the cat litter option(chick feed) today with less.the a positive.out come. I mixed 50/50 chick feed/culpable litter with baking soda added. Within less.than 5 mins I had all four of my cats eating the litter mixture. OMG hadn't anticipated that at all. I did leave one cat litter box straight clumping litter as Iif yet not one cat has used the "combo litter" pan. Ive.still got my fingers crossed in hopes they'll discontinuing eating the chick feed litter

sargon · Oct 5, 2016

1. What type/kind of chicken feed is best to use (specific brands/companies etc..)

I just bought the basic stuff at the local fed store. I couldn't tell you the brand.

2. I read somewhere that it will form weevils if not stored properly, so how do you store it?

Weevils were never an issue, but I stopped using it, because it was drawing mice.

3. Does it have clumping properties? And can you flush it?

It clumped well enough that I used it in my littermaid ( this was back when the littermaid was a fairly sturdy unit still.)

4. How does it compare to WBCL

no idea, i used chicken feed as a cheaper alternative to wbcl. i read abotu wbcl and thought, " I bet chicken feed willw ork!" and it did, it just eventually caused a mosue problem..

5. Is it dusty? And tracks?

worse than clay as I recall, but his was some time ago.

Chicken Feed As Litter

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