Bedding options for Baby Wheaten Marans

[Self sufficient chickens]

Hi all, I finished incubating 15 Wheaten Marans eggs on the 21st, out of 15, 10 hatched on the first day and one hatched 2 days later. On day 3, I walked into their brooder and found 5 dead and 4 close to dead. Somehow we were able to revive 3 of the chicks. That left us with a total of 5 chicks left. I decided that it must have been the micro pine shavings in the brooder because they had been eating them. Last night, 1 died suddenly. Now I need to decide on what to put in their brooder. Right now they have paper towels but those get nasty very quickly. I was thinking about putting sand in there but don't know if that is a good idea. Does anyone know if they will eat it or if sand is commonly treated with chemicals?

Thank you so much

 

[FortCluck]

If you do sand you have to get the builder's sand and not play sand. The builders or contractors sand has larger pieces in it and does not get compacted if a chick or chicken consumes some of it. You will find this type of sand in the lumber area of a Lowe's or a Home Depot.

That being said I have used sand, pine shavings, and straw in brooders.

Sand dries up the poop very well, but it does need to be scooped out just like a cat litter box because it does start getting clumpy. If the sand gets wet it will smell really bad, it doesn't even matter how well you clean it. When I used it with my chicks they tipped over their waterer and it just became a huge mess. Also the chicks will fling it around a lot because they will want to do dust baths in it. You could always put in a short cardboard box into your brooder with sand in it so that they could dust bathe in it.

Pine shavings has always been one of my favorites because it keeps the brooder dry and it is a very good bedding for them. It also doesn't ever get that nasty smell if it gets wet.

Straw I will never use again for any type of bedding and I only use it in nesting boxes. It just doesn't keep anything dry because it does have a coating on it that doesn't allow it to absorb.

I am trying these new pine pellets today with my chicks because I have heard very good reviews about them. They are supposed to be like the pine shavings, but a lot less mess. Pine shavings can get quite dusty.

 

[Self sufficient chickens]

If you do sand you have to get the builder's sand and not play sand. The builders or contractors sand has larger pieces in it and does not get compacted if a chick or chicken consumes some of it. You will find this type of sand in the lumber area of a Lowe's or a Home Depot.

Thanks, very informative. I will think about the dust bathing area.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

On day 3, I walked into their brooder and found 5 dead and 4 close to dead. Somehow we were able to revive 3 of the chicks. That left us with a total of 5 chicks left. I decided that it must have been the micro pine shavings in the brooder because they had been eating them. Last night, 1 died suddenly. Now I need to decide on what to put in their brooder.

I breed my birds and hatch hundreds most years. Not sure if shaving was the problem or not...

I use large shavings as they are too big for eating. BUT I use paper towels, rough side up on top of the shavings for the first few days. I simply lay fresh ones on top of the nasty areas, even just torn pieces sometimes to cover a poo. Once ALL chicks recognize WHAT feed is and are actively eating drinking and POOING, then I just remove the paper towels.

The paper towels also help to see if everyone IS pooing, a key to survival. Hatching is only half the battle. They survive on their yolk for about 3 days and there MAY be things internally that didn't develop correctly and we cannot yet detect.

Another alternative to these bedding materials is rice hulls (not sold everywhere but ask about it). One of my LFS uses them exclusively. They are so small that IF a chick does ingest them they SHOULD pass without issue.

Sorry for all your losses!

I'm not 100% sure it was shavings. Sounds like maybe there could have been a temperature issue?? What did you do to revive the ones that were close to failing? What heat source are you using? Teflon coated heat lamps like for food put of toxic fumes that can kill chick quickly. How were they when you found them... all piled up, spread out, etc? Were bumms clean or pasted shut? Also what are you feeding? Are you able to post a pic of your brooder set up?

I've raised dozens of breeds and bred FBCM for a few years. Marans are a fantastic breed and Wheaten is a pretty color!

Of the common hatcheries, the best pics I saw came from...
https://www.cacklehatchery.com/french-wheaten-marans.html
Unfortunately some use photos that don't actually come from their birds. But at least this one knows the S is always in Marans.

This one ALMOST looks like their birds come from the same place, according to the description but the eggs look darker and birds too narrow bodied (but again, maybe not their pics)...
https://thechickhatchery.com/home/french-wheaten-marans/?v=93b46a3fc67d
I've used pellets... they are heavy and not a good choice for me, long term. I also don't use hay, as stated it isn't absorbing and poo sits on top becoming a mat.

I consider sand to be smelly, but do love bringing in a pie pan or dish full of dirt for chicks to bathe, get some grit, and general enrichment.. if NOT vaccinated. Otherwise allow for full set in of vaccine before ANY other natural exposure.

Pics of your new chicks always welcome!

Please note... adding your general location to your profile can help folks make the best suggestion possible at a glance.

Best wishes!

 

[FortCluck]

Would you be able to give us a picture of your brooder setup and maybe we can find out what might have happened...

I'm so sorry for your losses

 

[FortCluck]

Thanks, very informative. I will think about the dust bathing area.

I also use the larger shavings that are from tractor supply they come in the white package.

Can you feel the chicks crops to see if anything might be impacted in there?

 

[Lizzy733]

You should definitely confirm the cause of death if you're not squeamish. Pine shavings are usually more frowned upon for potential respiratory issues moreso than impaction. Did they all die with full crops?

Also, as a note, Never use newspaper as this gets too slippery - one of the most important things for chicks early on is traction - otherwise you can end up with all sorts of leg injuries. Changing bedding frequently is a 'must' especially if there are many chicks in a confining brooder. It should at least be spot cleaned daily and will need to have a full clean more frequently as the chicks grow - sometimes that means daily full cleanouts.

 

[Self sufficient chickens]

Hi, thanks for your response.

The first photo is of the chicks with the pine shavings. The second is of the remaining ones today under their heater.

Once ALL chicks recognize WHAT feed is and are actively eating drinking and POOING, then I just remove the paper towels.

They are eating regular baby chick starter. 2 of the survivors had pasty but, I fixed them both yesterday but one died in the night.

 

[Self sufficient chickens]

You should definitely confirm the cause of death if you're not squeamish. Pine shavings are usually more frowned upon for potential respiratory issues moreso than impaction. Did they all die with full crops?

We dissected the 6 that died and found that the crops were full and had some pine shavings in them.

I'm not 100% sure it was shavings. Sounds like maybe there could have been a temperature issue?? What did you do to revive the ones that were close to failing?

To revive them, we put them on ice. We could not see how it could be temperature related because they had an area that was room temp (65ºF).

 

[keeper 1960]

what about hard wood shavings from a chainsaw, i have a barrel full of it. i use it for the full grown chickens.