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Chicken Feed litter?

post #1 of 12
3/31/11 at 9:39am
Thread Starter 
I think some on here use the chicken feed for litter - how good is it and how much does it cost. Right now, the feed stores don't have wood stove pellets (which I currently use) and I need litter quick.

Have a request out in my area for one or two bags but in the meantime, wanted to check out alternatives without going back to normal scoopable litter (which I do NOT want to do).

Thanks
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post #2 of 12
3/31/11 at 10:04am
I tried it as a cheaper alternative to WBCL. I didn't like it because it didn't clump as fast or as hard as WBCL but it did an OK job. Others think it works just as well as WBCL. The brand might make a difference.
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post #3 of 12
3/31/11 at 10:29am
Thread Starter 
Not worried about the clumping cause I scoop every other day - what price am I looking at and amount for the price.
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post #4 of 12
3/31/11 at 10:51am
Thread Starter 
Just called the farm supply store - they will be getting in wood stove pellets next week, but I'm picking up horse pellet bedding in the mean time - this is similar to the wood pellets - $10 for 50 lbs.

For anyone interested, the guy also said that the urine would not break it down, but if you pour some water over the horse pellets, it would make it "fluffy" - go figure! He said some other woman thought urine would break it down but it really didn't...strange but if it works, great
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post #5 of 12
3/31/11 at 10:53am
I scoop twice a day. The reason I like hard, fast clumping is because it's easier to scoop a fresh deposit and also a relatively fresh clump is less likely to get broken up by another cat coming and doing its thing right after.

I'll have to check my notes at home for the price. It's really cheap though. $10 for 40 lbs maybe?? I'll check when I get home if someone else doesn't respond.
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post #6 of 12
3/31/11 at 10:57am
Why don't you just get some Feline Pine in the mean time? I know it's more expensive but it's just to tide you over...
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post #7 of 12
3/31/11 at 11:36am
Average price is .20-30 cents per pound. The larger the bag the cheaper it is.

Make sure you get the unmediated.
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post #8 of 12
3/31/11 at 12:48pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks to you both - the reason I won't get Feline Pine is the cost!

I'll try the horse one that the farm store suggests till I get wood pellets next week. Then I'll mix them both

I'll let you guys know what I think about it in case others want a cheaper alternative for litter.
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post #9 of 12
4/1/11 at 3:36pm
I use the chick feed for litter. I've been using it for a couple months. I'm very happy with it. Before that I used WBCL, and I can't tell the difference. And apparently my cats can't either.

I buy the Tractor Supply Co house brand called "Dumour." I think it clumps as well as WBCL, well enough for me, anyway.

I buy the 20 lbs. bags, which are under $8.00. They do have 50 lbs. bags, which probably makes the price per pound much less.

Robin
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post #10 of 12
4/2/11 at 4:59pm
I buy 50 pound bags of Purina Layena crumbles, which costs me about $15. I am mixing the 50 pounds with about 15 pounds of WBCL at the moment (started out at a mix of 35 pounds of WBCL to 50 of the chick feed.) Within a couple of months I'll be at 100% chicken feed.

It isn't as "clean" as the WBCL, and needs changing more often, but for the price (and with 6 cats in the house) it is totally worth it.
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post #11 of 12
4/4/11 at 6:16am
Thread Starter 
The horse pellet bedding is fine - very similar to the wood stove pellets and only ended up about $1 more in price - $6 for 40 lsb (stove pellets is $5 for 40 lbs).

I mixed the two together and its been fine. So I know that I can get either and it works.
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post #12 of 12
4/4/11 at 6:28am
I know of a few horse barns that have recently switched over to the pelleted bedding in place of shavings. You have to water it down a bit to get it started. The pellets soak up the urine pretty well, I was surprised. I guess it would work great for a cat litter as well. Never thought of that.

I use the chicken feed, same place that Robin (Bastetservent) gets hers. It is working out very, very well and cheap. I got a 50 lb. bag for about $13.00.
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