Bedding for brooder?

[Willow's Meadow]

What is the difference between pine shavings and wood shavings? Which one should I get, can I get wood shavings? I think TSC only has wood shavings anyway.

 

[ADozenGirlz]

Willow's Meadow :

What is the difference between pine shavings and wood shavings? Which one should I get, can I get wood shavings? I think TSC only has wood shavings anyway.

You want Pine wood shavings. I get mine at TSC too. I think that "wood shavings" have other types of woods in the mix and you want to be careful with baby chicks b/c cedar is toxic to them (bad for their respiratory systems) and so you should stick with pine shavings if it's a choice between the two.​

 

[felidaet]

If the shavings don't say pine then avoid them. You don't want to take a chance with getting cedar.

Another option is pine pellets. I used these in my brooder this year instead of pine shavings and really liked them. They can still get in the food and water but is seemed like a lot less got in there. They also seem more absorbent than the pine shavings. I just moved my 5 - 6 week old chicks to their new coop this evening. I only changed the pellets in the brooder one time. I will use these again in the future.

 

[Tala]

Quote:
I also prefer pine pellets.

 

[Boo-Boo's Mama]

I used pine shavings then went to pine pellets. This week I put sand in the tray under the 6 wk old chicks...I like it thus far. I use a kitty litter scoop to remove the droppings and other trash that falls through the wire; put this in my compost pile. I'm using pine pellets in the tray under our newest bunny...works great. Also put sand in the brooder box of the Buff Orpington chicks...they are having a scratching good time. I put their water and feed up on blocks in the hopes of keeping it clean.