Brooder bedding

[John honcho]

Hello, this is my first time raising chicks. They are two weeks old. After the first week they started to dig to the bottom of the brooder, but as i watch them closely they are pecking at the bottom. I noticed that they are eating tiny bits of the shaving. I've heard that this can clog them up. Ive been trying to replace where they dig with more shavings, but they just dig again. Is this bad and should i consider using something elss for bedding? Thanks.

 

[CluckerFamily]

Mine do this too. I'd be more concerned if it was the big pieces of bedding than the little specks at the bottom. I think their bodies are telling them to do this and soon you may see them dust bathing in the shavings when it clicks on them that this is why they are scratching to the bottom.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If you have not already done so, provide them with chick grit so they can more easily digest any bits of bedding they're eating.

Regardless of bedding choice they'll likely pick at/scratch at/eat bits of it. I prefer large flake shavings to help minimize it a little bit.