12 year old son. First timer

[lazy gardener]

Unfortunately, many old wive's tales are spread on BYC. The forum is full of lots of "they said, they say, and everyone knows" information that is often simply passed from one person to an other. Some one once said it, so it must be true. In the case of chicks eating shavings: Chicks are babies. Babies explore with their mouths. That's what babies do. Take a new chick Mama, and she sees her chicks running around with shavings in their mouths. She's gonna think the worst!

I'm gonna throw my 2 cents into this discussion re: bedding for fresh hatchlings: Here's the first penny: When a broody hen takes her chicks out of the nest, what bedding do they encounter? Is the coop lined with paper towels? Doubtful. Those chicks are going to be living on shavings, hay, leaves, or any number of other beddings that the flock keeper chooses to use. Broody raised chicks are hale and hearty. They spend a lot of time exploring with their mouths. She will take them to the feeder, and give them their first meal. If they eat a shaving or two, or a leaf, or a bit of hay, no harm done. Here's the second penny: Birds don't have teeth. They were created to process their food through a gizzard. In order to do so, they need access to grit. It's instinctive for any bird to find that grit to allow that gizzard to do what it was designed to do. "they say that if the chicks/chickens get only processed feed, they don't need grit." I say, "Chickens have a gizzard for a reason. Give them that grit, and allow them to use that gizzard for the purpose it was designed. By allowing them access to grit, you will fulfill an instinctive need. Chicks LOVE grit. Give them grit, and those shavings won't be as appetizing."

Here's a bonus penny: What are chicks on for bedding in the feed store? If I recall correctly, they are on shavings.

 

[PD-Riverman]

Unfortunately, many old wive's tales are spread on BYC. The forum is full of lots of "they said, they say, and everyone knows" information that is often simply passed from one person to an other. Some one once said it, so it must be true. In the case of chicks eating shavings: Chicks are babies. Babies explore with their mouths. That's what babies do. Take a new chick Mama, and she sees her chicks running around with shavings in their mouths. She's gonna think the worst!

I'm gonna throw my 2 cents into this discussion re: bedding for fresh hatchlings: Here's the first penny: When a broody hen takes her chicks out of the nest, what bedding do they encounter? Is the coop lined with paper towels? Doubtful. Those chicks are going to be living on shavings, hay, leaves, or any number of other beddings that the flock keeper chooses to use. Broody raised chicks are hale and hearty. They spend a lot of time exploring with their mouths. She will take them to the feeder, and give them their first meal. If they eat a shaving or two, or a leaf, or a bit of hay, no harm done. Here's the second penny: Birds don't have teeth. They were created to process their food through a gizzard. In order to do so, they need access to grit. It's instinctive for any bird to find that grit to allow that gizzard to do what it was designed to do. "they say that if the chicks/chickens get only processed feed, they don't need grit." I say, "Chickens have a gizzard for a reason. Give them that grit, and allow them to use that gizzard for the purpose it was designed. By allowing them access to grit, you will fulfill an instinctive need. Chicks LOVE grit. Give them grit, and those shavings won't be as appetizing."

Here's a bonus penny: What are chicks on for bedding in the feed store? If I recall correctly, they are on shavings.

Very true and I too give them grit----I had a Big dump truck to unload 22 tons of grit next to my brooder house almost 3 years ago---I use it for other things but the chicks get some too. When you raise 1000's of chicks they can eat some grit. Factory feed might have some grit in it but I still add it until they get on the dirt.

 

[azygous]

I am a fact person, not hear say---Probably at least 1000 chicks out of over 6000 chicks I hatched in 2015 alone were raise on pine shavings, with no problems at all----it gets to me for someone to come behind me and make it sound like I do not know what I am doing or saying---and a lot of times the person that is stating it has never lost a chick to that problem----they have just always heard that. If they have the Necropsy repost that states some chicks die from eating pine shavings-----with my personal results I would feel they were not being fed and eat the chips from starvation. My Thoughts anyway. LOL. Welcome to the Forum and happy chicken raising!!

This is so true. I've been brooding chicks for ten years, and I've brooded them on shavings and lately, on sand. Baby chicks will sample everything just like human infants. Except in very rare instances, the occasional consumption of their bedding material does not result in any harm whatsoever. The key is to provide proper feed in a very fine texture so they will find it easy to eat with tiny, inexperienced beaks. And plenty of fresh, clean water to flush any material through their crops so it has no chance of impacting.

Good luck with your new babies! Come back and update this thread when they come!

 

[merrymutts]

Kitchen paper...paper towels for traction ??

 

[dannygirl1]

I say traction because I had two chicks develop spraddle leg due to slipping on newspaper, no slipping on paper towels. Also used sand in brooder once, clung to their feet and toes like cement, had to hold their legs in warm water and wash/prise it off. Never again !

 

[PD-Riverman]

I wouldn't put shavings in until a week old and they know whats feed and whats not.

Hey Dannygirl1 Question----have you ever lost a chick from being on pine shavings??

 

[dannygirl1]

No never did, but would still use paper towels for first week, then shavings.

 

[PD-Riverman]

No never did, but would still use paper towels for first week, then shavings.

Good!! Do what you feel is best for your chicks. For sure news paper can cause the leg problems but paper towels I am sure will help with that. I don't have a lot of time to change out paper towels several times a day to keep them from walking in their poop----keep in mind I might have 50 to 100 in a brooder----some times up to 300 in one brooder that is not one of the factory wire floor ones---that's a lot of poop. So I start out with the pine shavings. Have Fun!!

 

[dannygirl1]

Most I ever had was 20,so no workload compared to you, but how enjoyable they are, I try to have 3 or 4 hatches a year, have a batch now who are 3 weeks old and how fast they grow, happy hatching!

 

[PD-Riverman]

Most I ever had was 20,so no workload compared to you, but how enjoyable they are, I try to have 3 or 4 hatches a year, have a batch now who are 3 weeks old and how fast they grow, happy hatching!

Yep I can create a Big job for myself sometimes---LOL, Like when I have 4 incubators going with 800 to almost a 1000 eggs in them and 15 to 25 brooders going with 600 to 800 chicks and 67 chicken pens with 1000+ chickens-----I say to myself some times--"Why did I do all this"" but when the storm dies down----then I miss it all.