About to get some chicks....

[Squeaky McMurdo]

Well I used pine shavings last time which was fine, and I only had one chick who ever ate some and got pasty butt which was an easy enough fix. I was just curious on people's thoughts as I was thinking of trying actual wood chips this go around because they are bigger and they won't really be able to eat them as much, but I have heard it gets smelly alot faster. I am thinking of doing shredded paper for the first week or so and then changing it out to pine shavings so that they won't eat the shavings. My brooder isn't really set up to handle sand at the moment so I don't think that would be much of an option for me. Does make it sound really easy though. My first matter of business though is what do I do with the automatic turner in the incubator? Do I leave it in there or take it out for the last three days incubation?

I would take it out. A chick that hatches could potentially rock the tray and dump the other eggs. If you want to hatch them upright you can use a carton.

 

[CedarCluck]

I would take it out. A chick that hatches could potentially rock the tray and dump the other eggs. If you want to hatch them upright you can use a carton.

Does it matter if they hatch upright or not? I figured I would just take out the turner and have them sitting on the mesh thats beneath that.

 

[tammyfarms]

I lay mine flat. From what I have seen in others pics that seems pretty common.

 

[BLT79]

Where in the coop do you put the sand?

 

[ellie32526]

Where in the coop do you put the sand?

Right now my chicks are still in the brooder box, but I have sand covering the floor of it as well. I used paper towels the first week, then changed to sand. They like it, peck around all the time. I plan to cover the floor with 3-4 inches of sand when I put them in the hen house. I use a kitty litter scoop to pick out the big clumps and I'm going to get PDZ to help with the smell in the summer. Hope that helps.

 

[suebgbr]

what kind of sand. in uk we have builders sand, sharp sand, play sand. or does it not matter?

 

[gg706]

I would be certain to use play sand only. Builder sand can contain arsenic and other chemicals.

 

[Bellatrixed]

Yes, play sand!

 

[Too Fast]

As long as they are eating only commercial feed, they don't need grit. When they start to eat other stuff, free range etc, they will need grit.

Thanks. I did get some mealworms and crickets, for the first time. Boy was that fun to watch. If they eat those critters once or twice a day, do I need to add some grit now? And they are still on their starter feed.

 

[debid]

Thanks.  I did get some mealworms and crickets, for the first time.  Boy was that fun to watch.  If they eat those critters once or twice a day, do I need to add some grit now?  And they are still on their starter feed. 

Yes, they need grit to break up the bugs. You really should have given it first but better now than never.