6 Best Paper Brooder Liners For Reducing Waste That Keep Your Brooder Cleaner

Cleaning a brooder is a task no one looks forward to, but the mess is more than just an inconvenience; it’s a health risk for your young flock. The right brooder liner simplifies this chore, turning a half-hour scrape-and-scoop job into a two-minute roll-up-and-replace. Choosing a paper-based liner is one of the smartest moves you can make for both your chicks’ well-being and your own sanity.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you!

Why Paper Liners Excel in Brooder Hygiene

Paper liners offer a clean, simple solution that directly addresses the two biggest challenges in a brooder: moisture and footing. Unlike pine shavings, which can be dusty and get kicked into feeders and waterers, a flat paper surface keeps things tidy. More importantly, it provides a textured, non-slip surface that is critical for newly hatched chicks to prevent splayed leg, a debilitating condition caused by slipping on slick surfaces.

The real magic of paper is the "roll-up" cleaning method. Instead of scooping out soiled bedding piece by piece, you simply lift one end of the paper, roll the entire mess up like a dirty carpet, and toss it in the compost. Lay down a fresh sheet, and you’re done. This method dramatically reduces the time spent cleaning and minimizes your exposure to dust and ammonia.

Many people reach for newspaper, but it’s a poor substitute. The ink can smudge onto chicks, and the slick, glossy pages offer terrible traction. Good paper liners are absorbent, textured, and strong enough to be removed in one piece. They create a healthier environment by wicking moisture away from the chicks while providing the stable footing they need to develop strong legs.

U-Haul Packing Paper: A Widely Available Option

For a readily available and budget-friendly option, it’s hard to beat unprinted packing paper, often sold at U-Haul or other moving supply stores. This is essentially blank newsprint, so you get the absorbency of newspaper without the messy ink. It’s a fantastic starting point for anyone new to using paper liners.

The main tradeoff is its thickness. Packing paper is relatively thin, meaning it can get saturated quickly and may tear during removal if you have a lot of chicks or a minor water spill. To combat this, many people lay down two or three layers at a time. When the top layer gets soiled, you can just peel it off and roll it up, revealing a clean sheet underneath and cutting your cleaning time even further.

Duck Brand Kraft Paper for Durability and Grip

Kraft paper represents a significant step up in both durability and performance. It’s the brown paper you see used for wrapping packages, and its fibrous, slightly rough texture provides excellent grip for tiny feet. This makes it an ideal choice for the first week of a chick’s life when leg development is most critical.

While more expensive than packing paper, its strength often makes it more economical in the long run. A single layer of kraft paper can typically handle what would require two or three layers of newsprint, meaning a roll lasts longer than you might expect. It holds up well to the constant scratching of a growing flock and is far less likely to tear when you roll it up for cleaning. This durability makes it a reliable workhorse for small to medium-sized brooder setups.

Trimaco Red Rosin Paper for Heavy-Duty Use

If you’ve ever walked through a construction site, you’ve seen Red Rosin paper. This thick, durable paper is used to protect floors, and that toughness makes it an excellent, albeit unconventional, brooder liner. It’s highly resistant to tearing and can withstand a lot of moisture before it even thinks about breaking down.

This moisture resistance is both a pro and a con. A spilled waterer won’t immediately turn your brooder into a soggy mess, as the paper contains the spill on the surface. However, it’s not very absorbent, so droppings and moisture tend to sit on top rather than wicking in. This can lead to messier chicks if not changed frequently.

Red Rosin paper is best for large, high-traffic brooders or for use under a thin layer of shavings after the first week. Its sheer toughness means it won’t get shredded by older, more active chicks. Think of it as a protective sub-floor for your brooder that makes the final clean-out incredibly easy.

RentACoop Pre-Cut Sheets for Easy Cleanup

For those who value convenience above all else, pre-cut brooder liners are the answer. Companies like RentACoop offer sheets specifically sized for common brooder models, eliminating the need to measure and cut from a large, unwieldy roll. This is a massive time-saver, especially when you’re managing multiple brooders or just have limited time.

These sheets are typically made from a durable, absorbent paper similar to heavy-duty kraft paper. The perfect fit means no awkward gaps or overlaps where droppings can get trapped. You simply lay a sheet down, and when it’s dirty, you fold it up and replace it with a fresh one.

The obvious tradeoff is cost. You are paying a premium for the convenience of pre-cut, perfectly sized sheets. For a very small batch of chicks or for someone who finds wrestling with a giant paper roll frustrating, the extra expense can be well worth it. It’s the simplest, most foolproof option on the market.

Eco-Lite Corrugated Paper for Added Insulation

Corrugated paper offers a unique benefit that other liners don’t: insulation. This single-faced corrugated cardboard, often sold in rolls, has a layer of fluting that traps air. When used in a brooder set up on a cold concrete floor in a garage or barn, this air gap provides a valuable thermal break, helping keep chicks warm from below.

The raised ridges of the corrugation also provide outstanding grip for chicks, making it one of the best surfaces for preventing splayed leg. The texture is easy for them to walk on and encourages strong leg development from day one.

The downside is that the valleys in the corrugation can trap droppings, making spot-cleaning more difficult than on a flat surface. It’s also bulkier to store and dispose of. This liner is a specialized tool, perfect for those brooding in colder environments where floor temperature is a real concern.

Pratt Kraft Paper for Large Brooder Setups

When you move from raising a dozen chicks to raising 50 or more, your supply needs change. Buying small rolls of paper becomes impractical and expensive. This is where large, industrial-sized rolls of kraft paper, like those from manufacturers such as Pratt, become the most logical choice.

Buying in bulk dramatically lowers the cost per square foot. A single 900-foot roll can last an entire season or more, even with frequent changes in multiple large brooders. It’s the most cost-effective way to use paper liners for a larger hobby farm or small-scale poultry operation.

The challenge is purely logistical. These rolls are heavy and cumbersome. You need a dedicated space to store the roll and a sturdy dispenser or a safe way to cut off large sheets. It’s an investment in efficiency that only makes sense once your flock size justifies the initial purchase and storage requirements.

Choosing the Right Liner for Your Flock Size

The "best" liner ultimately depends on the scale of your operation and your priorities. There is no single right answer, only the right answer for your specific situation. Your choice should balance cost, convenience, and performance based on the number of birds you’re raising.

A simple framework can help guide your decision:

• 1-12 Chicks: Prioritize ease of use and chick safety. RentACoop Pre-Cut Sheets are ideal for their convenience, while a small roll of Duck Brand Kraft Paper offers excellent grip for a small footprint.
• 12-50 Chicks: Balance cost with durability. U-Haul Packing Paper (used in layers) is a great budget option. For a bit more durability and less hassle, a larger roll of Duck Brand Kraft Paper or Trimaco Red Rosin Paper is a solid investment.
• 50+ Chicks: Focus on economy of scale. A bulk roll of Pratt Kraft Paper is the most cost-effective solution for managing waste and keeping large brooders clean.

Consider your brooder’s location as well. If you’re brooding in a cold barn, the insulating properties of Eco-Lite Corrugated Paper might outweigh all other factors. The key is to match the product to the practical realities of your farm.

Ultimately, the goal is to create a healthy environment for your chicks without creating an unmanageable workload for yourself. By choosing the right paper liner, you streamline one of the most repetitive chores of raising poultry. This simple decision pays dividends in cleaner birds, healthier legs, and more time for you to simply enjoy your growing flock.