Bedding type and questions

[Amgill0415]

First time mama hen here and today I put down some soft Aspen bedding for my chicks. I had been using Timothy hay in the heating pad mama hen area, but switched to this bedding since it's a bit cheaper. They are all playing in it and pecking around and im now worried that they might be eating a bit of it. Is that a genuine concern? Should I take out the bedding and just stick with hay? They have plenty of starter and are eating that too, and I give them a few grubbleys or meal worms a day so they have grit available as well. They are about 2 weeks old and everyone is acting happy and healthy. Thanks in advance!

 

[Mvan42]

As long as they have grit they should be ok.. I don't know anything about that kind of bedding so others may have other advice

 

[Amgill0415]

As long as they have grit they should be ok.. I don't know anything about that kind of bedding so others may have other advice

I know cedar is bad, but was thinking Aspen was ok... until the silly things started eating it!

 

[Mvan42]

Lol. They seem to eat everything.. the chicks i have like to throw their food on the floor of the brooder then eat it from there..

 

[LizzzyJo]

I had a chick once who would eat brooder shavings all the time. Just pick up the wood and swallow it. He was a bit on the dumb side. He grew up healthy!

 

[Amgill0415]

I can't tell of they are actually swallowing it or are just picking up bits and chasing each other since it's new. But hearing from others that things have turned out fine is reassuring! Thanks!

 

[MGG]

They just like to taste it, it won't hurt them. I've never had any actually eat them. You could give them some more starter or a little treat maybe to distract them

 

[MGG]

Yeah, cedar is bad, aspen is fine if you want to, you could try regular straw. I get compressed bales

 

[rosemarythyme]

I use aspen, it should be fine unless they're eating large amounts of it. Make sure they have grit in case they are eating some.