2018 Newbie Chat!

[EastTexasHen]

Newby here! We are getting our chicks tomorrow and my husband is picking up the bedding in the morning. There are far too many pages to completely read through and I want to know what everybody thinks is a good idea for bedding. Thanks in advance!

If they’re really young then i was told to do a layer of newspaper, then large flake pine shavings with paper towels layered on top of that. You’re supposed to do that for a few weeks to give them good traction so they don’t slip and hurt themselves while they develop their little leg muscles. But i am a newbie as well so hopefully someone more experienced will chime in.

 

[PNW_Peepers]

Newby here! We are getting our chicks tomorrow and my husband is picking up the bedding in the morning. There are far too many pages to completely read through and I want to know what everybody thinks is a good idea for bedding. Thanks in advance!

I’ve brooded chicks three times, still a newbie myself though. We use pine shavings (no cedar) with paper towels on top of that for the first couple days. I change out bedding completely once a week at least. Hope this helps, & welcome!!!

 

[funnyfoshay]

If they’re really young then i was told to do a layer of newspaper, then large flake pine shavings with paper towels layered on top of that. You’re supposed to do that for a few weeks to give them good traction so they don’t slip and hurt themselves while they develop their little leg muscles. But i am a newbie as well so hopefully someone more experienced will chime in.

I read some books and have only been doing this one week- with limited success.
We have tried fabric (old sheets/towels) we used paper towels which worked well for a week and today pine bedding. Yesterday and today the chickies were having too much fun ripping up the paper towels, playing tug of war and possibly ingesting some!?!?!
Tonight we switched to old sheets and we are trying out the pine bedding which seems fine but also nervous about using this in the house-dust? mess?.

 

[Keeperoflock]

I've been wondering something. My chicks are 6 weeks old and will be going into the coop this weekend HOPEFULLY. I've been using plain wood chips, no pine or cedar. Just plain chips. I'd like to change over to pine shavings when they go out in the coop. Will switching be a problem for them?

 

[Aquachick]

Pine shavings are fine. I have used them in my coop for years. Congratulations on your chicks moving into their forever home.

 

[Cyn555]

Good morning all,

I am a newbie here we moved to the country just before winter and now have 3 baby chicks in my house they are 3 weeks old. Can’t wait to take them outside, we still have snow so can’t bring them in the coop yet. Here are a couple of pics.

 

[BBZZZZTT]

I had my chicks on paper towels for a few days then shavings. I was told that is to make sure they are not eating shavings at a young age. So as soon as they had established what food is I put a small pile in their brooder. They didn't eat the shavings so I switched out the paper towels for shavings.
Plain wood chips can contain harmful mold I'm told and doesn't absorb moisture well. Straw also retains too much moisture and molds easily. Cedar shavings are harmful to the chickens respiratory system. Newspaper can be too slippery for the babies.

That's just what I've read on this stie to contribute to my choices

 

[BBZZZZTT]

The floor is lava!

9 weeks old. Luckily the snow is melting rapidly today and temps will be staying in the 50s for the next week.
Of course rapidly melting snow means mud pit. I have more sand to add to their run if needed. XD

 

[PNW_Peepers]

@BBZZZZTT Kida’s feather evolution is so strange. I love seeing photo updates of her, she looks different every time.

 

[BBZZZZTT]

@BBZZZZTT Kida’s feather evolution is so strange. I love seeing photo updates of her, she looks different every time.

I am going to go through and pull a bunch if of pictures together of her growth!