New to the group.

[Marineshooter]

New to the group. Getting our first chicks within the next 45 days. Just a couple of questions and hopefully I am inundated with answers. What type of shavings should we use? Cedar, pine, fir small or large? For the first 4 weeks what are the biggest concerns and remedies for those brought up. Thank you in advance for any answers. Semper Fidelis.

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello and welcome to BYC!

Congrats on getting this adventure started! Here is an article from our Learning Center on Raising the Chicks their first 6 Weeks... https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/brooding-chicks-the-first-6-weeks.74640/

No cedar shavings at all, you can use pine shavings or any type of grass hay.

Best wishes with your chicks, if you have any questions about them along the way, be sure to ask.

Welcome to our community!

 

[pennyJo1960]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens. This is a great place to explore and hang out.
I use spent coffee grounds not the normal but smells good.

 

[Debbie292d]

Hiya, and welcome to BYC!!

NO CEDAR, please. Whichever size shavings you choose, just make sure it's pine. (We use horse bedding pellets (pine) after the first couple of days.)

 

[Marineshooter]

Hello and welcome to BYC!

Congrats on getting this adventure started! Here is an article from our Learning Center on Raising the Chicks their first 6 Weeks... https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/brooding-chicks-the-first-6-weeks.74640/

No cedar shavings at all, you can use pine shavings or any type of grass hay.

Best wishes with your chicks, if you have any questions about them along the way, be sure to ask.

Welcome to our community!

Thank you TwoCrows for the response. Greatly appreciated. Why should we not use cedar ?

 

[Jenbirdee]

hello there welcome to BYC!!

 

[SilverBirds]

Welcome to BYC!
If you are using shavings I'd probably go with pine. Never use cedar as it is harmful to chickens' delicate respiratory system. Hay is also a bedding option and that's what I typically use. Best of luck with your chicks!

 

[TwoCrows]

Thank you TwoCrows for the response. Greatly appreciated. Why should we not use cedar ?

The oils in cedar can damage their respiratory systems, it's too aromatic.

 

[Marineshooter]

Welcome to BYC!
If you are using shavings I'd probably go with pine. Never use cedar as it is harmful to chickens' delicate respiratory system. Hay is also a bedding option and that's what I typically use. Best of luck with your chicks!

 

[Marineshooter]

Thank you SilverBirds. I had purchased cedar without research ( have not used it ) with the theory of keeping unwanted bugs away. Learning lesson. I will Take it back and get pine. Thank you again.