bedding for transitioning

[Dhkoenig]

Good morning - I am going to be a busy poster today. My question here is, I am picking up two new pullets (5 weeks old) this week. I am going to be quarantining them in my garage. I have two small coops (cheap ones with attached runs) that I am planning on connecting with a dog crate between them so they at least have someplace to go for 4 weeks. I have been told it is okay to move 5-week olds into my garage (even tho temps outside here have the potential to drop into the 40s at this point). My question is, what bedding should use for such young birds? When one of my adult hens was injured and I had her in my garage, I at first used pine shavings but it was a MESS - they were all over the garage. Then I started using a soft dog mat with wee-wee pads over it. It was much easier to change out the wee wee pads than to climb into my little ICU and scoop out the poops. Plus less of a mess. Any ideas here? Thanks

 

[azygous]

Do you have a document shredder? I've had success using shredded newspaper as bedding for a disabled hen that used a crate in her infirmary pen to lay eggs in. The newspaper is absorbent while resisting being tracked out all over the place. It's easily picked up when it does migrate.