Chicks eating pine shavings in brooder---ok?

[funkdog]

New fuzz butts are doing fine exploring their fancy new cardboard chicken condo but have taken to eating the pine shavings that line their box. They have plenty of Start n Grow which they are eating but seem to snack on the shavings--is this okay?? Thanks!!

 

[cafarmgirl]

Quote:
x2. I have always kept my chicks on pine shavings from the start, I've never done paper towels, I just watch them at first to make sure everybody knew where the feed was. Are you sure they are eating the shavings or are they picking up spilled crumbles? Mine would dig a ridiculous amount of crumbles out of the feeders and then had a fine time scratching thru the shavings looking for and eating it.

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

Quote:
do you want to take a chance that they are eating lost feed or shavings that will kill them. Some birds do eat shavings don't grow because there is no room in the crop, adding grit doesn't help, and they die or don't grow well. It doesn't happen alot but it dose happen, plus if you have chick die, young do you check the crop to see if they have eaten shavings and that what killed them.

why take a chance

If a broody raises chicks, do you put the mama and the babies on paper towels? My broody's chicks have been in the coop with the other birds since day one and they are growing just fine. When you go to the feed store during chick days, do they have the chicks on paper towels? I've yet to lose a brooder raised chick to anything but shipping stress (one chick).

I'm sorry, I don't mean to argue with you but I think sometimes raising chicks is made out to be a whole lot more complicated than it needs to be.

if abroody raises chick she teaches them what to do by her song, watch a broody once, its very interesting. Do you teach you chicks what to do like a broody? some die as teens or adults, its been proven

yes, my TCS uses towling

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
I watch my broody with her chicks near constantly, as often as I can during the day. So far it's been my absolute favorite part of raising chickens. In the absence of a broody, yes I do act as the surrogate mama. The benefits of living on an isolated farm - being able to run around acting like a chicken, teaching my biddies, without someone calling the men in white jackets to come get me.

 

[featherz]

I've had about 20 sets of baby chicks. I use paper towel for a day or so, really so it's easier to see who is pooping properly. I then put them on shavings and haven't lost a single chick. So if they eat them, it's not enough to matter.

 

[gritsar]

I just put PINE shavings into the brooder with 3 week old chicks and they are having a ball kicking it everywhere. From what I've read on this post I don't need to worry about them eating it but they are kicking it into the water bowl. Will that be ok if they're drinking water that has pine shavings in it? I will clean it as much as possible but tomorrow I'll be gone for several hours

If they are three weeks old sounds like it's time for their waterer to be raised up a bit. Raising the waterers and feeders as they grow helps keep both the waterer and feeder cleaner, but to answer your question it's not going to hurt them to drink water with shavings in it so long as there is enough water that they don't run out.

I have a variety of ages in my juvenile coop right now, with the youngest ones (standards) being five weeks old. My juvenile coop is divided into sections, with the youngest starting out in the smaller brooder section. Last week, in preparation for even more chicks due at the end of this week, the youngest were introduced to the older (bantam) ones who are now 20-ish weeks old. Some chasing, some pecking but everyone is fine. They are all drinking out of a standard 7 gallon waterer and yes, still kicking shavings in it even though it's up on a paver. I plan to raise it even more this coming week by adding another paver.

I learned long ago not to stress over chicks. They all start out on shavings, they all get baby feeders and waterers for a few weeks, then on to the big girl (and boy) stuff. I do not sanitize everything daily because I want them to be introduced to germs to help build strong immune systems. I don't let them live in filth, but they do need that exposure to germs. At integration time I watch for excessive chasing and pecking from the older chicks and would intervene if it got out of hand (hasn't happened yet). I just enjoy my chicks and worry about problems as they come up, not lay awake at night thinking of all the things that could go wrong. I have had great success with the enjoy more, worry less approach.

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

how old are they, if under 7 days they should be on paper towl so they don't eat shavings. if they eat to many the shavings don't pass and your birds will be stunted or/and even die. they need to figure out whats good to

 

[funkdog]

Egads, thank you. Will take them out immediately! Sad, as they were purchased from a small and very reputable farm store and they are the ones that told me to put down pine shavings for them!! Thank you so much for your help.

 

[gritsar]

I'm sorry, but I disagree. My chicks are on shavings from day one without any trouble. Chicks will explore things with their mouths, same as human babies do.

If they definitely know where their food is, I wouldn't worry about it. If you're going to worry anyhow, offer them some chick grit to digest any that they manage to swallow.

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

Quote:
x2. I have always kept my chicks on pine shavings from the start, I've never done paper towels, I just watch them at first to make sure everybody knew where the feed was. Are you sure they are eating the shavings or are they picking up spilled crumbles? Mine would dig a ridiculous amount of crumbles out of the feeders and then had a fine time scratching thru the shavings looking for and eating it.

do you want to take a chance that they are eating lost feed or shavings that will kill them. Some birds do eat shavings don't grow because there is no room in the crop, adding grit doesn't help, and they die or don't grow well. It doesn't happen alot but it dose happen, plus if you have chick die young do you check the crop to see if they have eaten shavings and that what killed them.

why take a chance