bedding

[paigeandclyde]

hi, i'm getting some chicks tonight and i was wondering if using hay as a bedding is ok for thier brooder. its timothy hay (for those of you who know what that is), so is this alright for them?

 

[greenpeeps]

I've used the woodchips , hated! Then I tried hay, it was good. But the best i found was Straw. I'm not really sure what Timothy hay is but if it's hay should be great.

 

[plucker]

Timothy hay should be fine. They can likely eat some it also.

I have access to cheap wood chips so I use those.

 

[brewmonkey]

We used fine pine shavings, untreated all natural and that worked well for our babies. When they got bigger we changed to coarser shavings.

In the beginning with the fine shavings I added a bit to the original layer and once a week I cleaned everything out completely and started anew because I was so paranoid the babies could get sick.
This is our first time with chickens and we wanted to get them just hatched so that they would become pets as well as laying hens. They are only close to 2months old but happy and healthy. This forum always has good info from more experienced people. Enjoy your chicks they will be amazing

 

[TheMainException]

Timothy hay should be fine, but if you notice that they are eating it, be sure to give them some chick grit to munch on so they can digest the hay.

 

[hunter109]

i was wondering the same thing i was going to put down some ground corncobs that i put it my parikeet cage jw if it would be a good bedding for chicks