1 Week Old Americanas eating bedding?

[Drafthorsegal]

Hey all. I had a quick question. I was playing with my four americanas chicks today and noticed something that I wasn't sure was normal. I have them on newsprint with shavings scattered over the top. They are the curly pine type I use in my horse stalls. Anyhow, the little ones are scratching at the bedding, tearing it up... having a good old time... then I noticed one of them (at least I think it was the same one) was eating the pine shavings. They have plenty of starter and water available... this little guy just didn't seem to care what was going in its mouth so long as its mouth was full. Is this normal? These are my first chickens, so I'm not exactly sure if it is.

If it isn't, should I take the pine shavings out?

 

[RendonRoo]

they should figure out the difference in chips and food after a couple of days. I think mine all ate a little at first. If they eat too much of the shavings it could impact them and cause trouble. Just keep an eye on it and make sure it's getting plenty of nutrition. Good Luck

 

[geareduplyn]

Go get a bag of wood pellets. Throw the shavings out. Never an impacted chick.

 

[Renee]

Get rid of the shavings immediately. They don't know what to eat yet and the shavings can get caught in their throats or clog up their crops.

I would switch to paper towels until they are older and have begun to realize what is edible and what is not. My Speckled Sussex never got it, and ate every piece of straw or shavings she could find. I lost her.

 

[Bluebyrd]

Mine did the same thing, once one started they all started it. So i put them on straw and that works. Sometimes I catch them eating it, but not nearly as much as the shavings. Being a newbie I would have tried pellets that everyone talks about, but my store was out ( of course).

 

[goldnchocolate]

Can you be more specific about the pellets? Where do you get them and what are they called? Thanks

 

[FarmerDenise]

I also stay away from shaving the first coupleof weeks. I use newspaper with paper towels on top. After about two weeks, I figure their systems can handle a little bit of shavings. That's when things get a bit too smelly for me using just the paper towels. I also use straw, but make sure you don't get stuff with long grassy bits, that too can cause a blockage in the crop. When I get the chance I use dried leaves. These are usually not in abundance in the spring, when it's chick season. But I can sometimes find some under some of the bushes. Next year I should plan better and gather some up in a bag and store it for spring.

 

[Drafthorsegal]

Thanks for all the great advice. I have the little americanas on papertowels (I switched them out as soon as I read your folks' response - thanks!) and my RIRs in a nice bunny cage which keeps them above the shavings I have in there to catch the bombs until their outdoor enclosure is done. In fact the RIRs spent the afternoon outside under a nice pine tree while I worked on their temporary run until the real big one is done.

Great advice. I'll do the pellets with the next batch of chicks.