Bedding

[CountryCentinel]

Just read an article that said saw dust is not a good choice for bedding for chicks, it is too fine and they might eat it instead of their food.

As it happens that was my plan, so, I don't have crushed cob, of wood shavings, what is a good bedding in this instance?

Is straw okay for the little things?

Thx...

 

[SilkieBantams]

I'd recommend hay to be used as their bedding.

 

[chicmom]

You can use straw. Pine shavings are probably the best thing you can get though for chicks. That's what I always use, plus, you just fluff it up, and it will last a good while.

Straw will be fine though, if that's all you have.

 

[CountryCentinel]

We want our girls happy, we'll get the pine shavings... ;-)

 

[fiddlebanshee]

I got pine shavings but put paper towels on top of the shavings for the first day or two to make sure they knew where the food was and were not mistaking the shavings for food. It worked out fine. They''ve been on shavings since.

 

[dgilm]

So... I've been using shavings... and love them, except they seem to fill their waterers and feeders with them. Some days more than others. First I thought maybe raising them up would help, and it does, but they STILL get them full of shavings. It's just crazy!

 

[SteveBaz]

I have seen it countless times posted on here that other members get truck bed loads of saw dust to the top of the rails on their pickup truck. If I was not disabled I would too. I get the compressed bag that opens up to 9 cu yards. It comes in a small bag and opens up to a hug amount of shavings. 3" to 4" deep and pick at the poop for 3 to 5 weeks and add some and then in 2 weeks after picking and cleaning add another inch or two. I have been doing the deep litter method and it could go longer than a year at this rate. It is EASY!! Chickens live in dirt and dust and poop and running through yogurt and all the stuff they do the dust from saw dust can not do damage from what I have read here on the BYC.

Go to the search section on the right top corner of every page and type "SAW DUST" and see how many posts from members who use saw dust for bedding.

Good luck and welcome to the BYC

 

[Fred's Hens]

Shavings are ok, if they are the HUGE flakes, not the powdery stuff.

But.... Love yellow straw.

 

[fiddlebanshee]

Quote:
Yep, been there done that. I switched to watering nipples and my 3 week old chicks caught on without any problem in about 10 seconds. I hung a half gallon jug with two nipples in it. Now they're a little older, I have three jugs with 5 nipples and need to refill the water only once a week (for now).