Bedding for Chicks

[woman_in_shoe]

Newbie here and we just hatched out our first batch of baby chicks. 7 out of 9 eggs incubated and hatched. I am wondering if I can use High Density Pellets animal bedding as bedding for my chicks? It is the type of bedding is shaving pellets that you add water to and it expands.

 

[MattalynsBarn]

Would it be bad if they ate it?

 

[woman_in_shoe]

Quote:
After you wet it down with water it breaks down into a fine sawdust.

 

[chicmom]

Well, the thing is, you want a dry environment for chicks, otherwise they can get cocci, and that is deadly. Not sure if I would use that.....

 

[woman_in_shoe]

Quote:
I would of course let it dry off first for a day or so before putting it in the brooder.

 

[chicmom]

Well....I've never heard of that type of bedding....so I wasn't sure if it would be damp or not....dampness means stinkyness and with a heat lamp, warm+damp=Illness....

But you've got it all figured out then!

 

[Hollywood Chickens]

I keep mine paper towels for the fist 2 weeks, and then pine shavings.