2 chicks out of 10 dead after 48 hrs.

[City Gardener]

We had so much trouble with shavings.

Our five chicks (also from MPC) all survived, but it was touch and go at first. One in particular almost died, basically from not being able to poop. She would strain and strain to poop, making this intense chirping noise, and nothing would happen. We gave her baths and that got the poop out, but then 20 minutes later, we'd be there again. It went on for weeks. Now they are all healthy and grown up.

I think it was the shavings, b/c they definitely ate the shavings, constantly.

I read recently in an old Mother Earth News that a neighbor gave me -- to put burlap on top of the shavings to keep them from eating them. I'm going to try that the next time I get chicks.

 

[Chicken Fruit]

Quote:
I just mentioned it because ceder and some pine shavings are toxic to chickens. Some times they say pine, but they include aromatic firs.

I switched to recycled pulp pelleted bedding, or equine bedding pellets. The equine world does not use cedar, so the pellets for horses are safe. As a bonus theyre cheaper, last longer, absorb better, and compost well. You rarely need to change them, and they never stink in the brooder, and cant really wick the water out of the waterer like shavings...

 

[kelidei]

I have had chicks shipped twice so far. First bunch were from McMurray I ordered 25 of their "brown layers". All of them plus the "packing peanut" arrived alive and happy and they still are--- six months later. Just last month I ordered 16 chicks from MPC all arrived healthy and active but about five days later I found one of the EE's just laying listless and within hours she was gone. She looked perfect, I could see nothing wrong with her. Thankfully, all her hatchmates are doing splendidly--- they are now 4 weeks old and growing like weeds!
It is hard--- that little EE was so pretty--- Now all I can do is wonder what she would have looked like.