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If you get them into a much bigger brooder, they will stay cleaner. I don't recommend keeping them on wood chips for the first couple of weeks. since you have them on wood chips, get them some appropriately sized grit right away. Without the grit they cannot digest the shavings that they are eating.

Porter's Poult starting tips
 
R2elk said:
If you get them into a much bigger brooder, they will stay cleaner. I don't recommend keeping them on wood chips for the first couple of weeks. since you have them on wood chips, get them some appropriately sized grit right away. Without the grit they cannot digest the shavings that they are eating.

Porter's Poult starting tips
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You think they're eating the shavings? It's the large flake ones you get for chicks! crap! I can change the bedding, I just wasn't sure what else was an option. The breeder had them on puppy pads. But I can only imagine how much more poop they'd waller in ...
 
mandymcg05 said:
You think they're eating the shavings? It's the large flake ones you get for chicks! crap! I can change the bedding, I just wasn't sure what else was an option. The breeder had them on puppy pads. But I can only imagine how much more poop they'd waller in ...
Click to expand...
Also, I have the flock raiser and grit mixed together. Can I mix that with their game bird starter? Or can I give them oyster shell grit? It's all I have and everywhere is SOLD OUT around here.
 
mandymcg05 said:
Also, I have the flock raiser and grit mixed together. Can I mix that with their game bird starter? Or can I give them oyster shell grit? It's all I have and everywhere is SOLD OUT around here.
Click to expand...
Do not mix grit with feed. Grit needs to be offered separate. Oyster shell is not grit and is harmful to birds that are not laying. The extra calcium can cause kidney damage. Pet stores sell grit for small birds which would be the appropriate size for chicks or poults.

You can also check out this thread about DIY grit.
 
R2elk said:
Do not mix grit with feed. Grit needs to be offered separate. Oyster shell is not grit and is harmful to birds that are not laying. The extra calcium can cause kidney damage. Pet stores sell grit for small birds which would be the appropriate size for chicks or poults.

You can also check out this thread about DIY grit.
Click to expand...
I will do that thank you!
 
@mandymcg05 your poults are adorable. As long as you see them eating and drinking, they should be fine. Usually, I keep my poults on a towel for the first week or so till they get their footing and learn what food is but occasionally, they're on shavings sooner. Right now, I have 3 poults that hatched last Saturday out on shavings. They moved there at just 2 days old and no issues. As long as you don't see them eating any shavings, they should be OK. Having some grit wouldn't be a bad idea but I wouldn't panic over it. Now as for keeping them clean, a bigger broker will definitely help. Just make sure that you have the temperature at about 95° at the warmest spot and room for them to get away from the heat if they're too warm. They could all be piling up from being too cold. Meat birds tend to throw off more heat and eat a lot more so the palms may want to be snuggled up with the meat bird to stay warm. It will also look like they don't eat much next to that one.
 
OneMountainAcres said:
@mandymcg05 your poults are adorable. As long as you see them eating and drinking, they should be fine. Usually, I keep my poults on a towel for the first week or so till they get their footing and learn what food is but occasionally, they're on shavings sooner. Right now, I have 3 poults that hatched last Saturday out on shavings. They moved there at just 2 days old and no issues. As long as you don't see them eating any shavings, they should be OK. Having some grit wouldn't be a bad idea but I wouldn't panic over it. Now as for keeping them clean, a bigger brooder will definitely help. Just make sure that you have the temperature at about 95° at the warmest spot and room for them to get away from the heat if they're too warm. They could all be piling up from being too cold. Meat birds tend to throw off more heat and eat a lot more so the palms may want to be snuggled up with the meat bird to stay warm. It will also look like they don't eat much next to that one.
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I start all my poults at 90°F measured at the bedding level. They do very well and begin feathering in faster in the cooler temperatures. It is beneficial to have a big enough brooder to have warm and cool zones. Food and water should be in the cool zones.

@casportpony 's advice is to weigh the poults daily if you are concerned about whether or not they are eating. Weight increase = they are definitely eating.
 

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