Brooder help

[Newchickenmom1]

Hey all! So new chicken mom here, as my user name implies.

I have 3 chicks thats are currently 4-5 weeks and 5 that currently 2-3 weeks old. So they are all still currently in the brooder and to help with clean up I place pee pee pads down underneath the pellet/shavings. Well they have been destroying the pee pee pads and thankfully I noticed my polish chick opening and closing her mouth and not being as loud. When I checked her mouth she had a piece of the underside of pee pee pad (plastic) stuck on her tongue and down her throat. I was able to pull it out with my tweezers. But now I’m afraid it will happen again. I use the pads because they are in a zip up “puppy pen” that has a bottom.

Can anyone suggest a better option so I don’t have to worry about situation happening again?

 

[Debbie292d]

After Day 3 chicks, we replace paper towels with horse bedding pellets. About an inch of those and that absorbs the poop/smell.

After a few days, I stir them with a stick. You might see some eating them or you think they're eating them but for years we've used them with zero issues. They're 100% compressed pine.