Brooder Bedding??? Newbie Question

[gryeyes]

I have never used anything BUT pine shavings. If their little beaks have been dipped into the water, and dipped into the food, so they know what it is and where it is, then they're all fine. I do understand the paper towel use for the first day, maybe two, if you want to make sure they don't eat any shavings AND you can see their poops to make sure they ARE eliminating okay. (Of course, this depends on how many chicks you have in your brooder at a time; more than six and who would know if they're all pooping fine???)

One suggestion I've read is to use that drawer lining, webbed looking stuff, over the shavings for the first day or so. A couple people use it all the time, no shavings.

I wouldn't ever use newspaper, first because of the slipperiness, causing spraddle leg, and the second because of the inks. (I'm old, I remember really nasty newsprint.)

 

[zippitydooda]

Mrs. Fluffy Puffy :

Never use news paper for baby chicks!!! Bad, Bad idea! Use either paper towels, or wood shavings!

Why?​

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Because it gives them spraddle Legs! That's not good. Plus it just isn't good bedding.

 

[RubysMomFP]

Thanks for the tips. I took them off the newspaper and put them on shavings last night. They seem to be doing well on them.

 

[write2caroline]

I loved using SAND
caroline

 

[sparky134]

Do you ever change the sand during the brooder time?? Or the pine shavings?? I have raised mine on wire until they go outside 4 - 6 weeks..

 

[lisebarb]

Day 3 with my new BR chicks. This morning I removed the paper towel that was covering the layer of sand I'm using as bedding. They were scratching at the paper towel to get at the sand anyway. I scattered a couple pinches of dried oatmeal over the sand and they just about lost their minds with glee.