Can I use dry grass in my chick brooder?

[Dawn Of The Chicken Bock]

Yes, take dirt from you backyard. It will also start to expose them to all the things in your soil and let them build immunities. You can leave the living grass in it for them to peck, but I would avoid "dry grass" or grass clippings. It will impact in their crop and get stuck. Make sure the grass you include is in clumps with the root attached and some soil attached so they can actually peck at it and break it apart.

By using dirt for the floor, you won't need to offer grit, either, they'll get it from the soil.

Make sure you monitor the soil though under a heat lamp, it can really hold heat and you will probably want your light raised if you use a heat lamp.

Thank you, I will try dry dirt

 

[Dawn Of The Chicken Bock]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens
I use wood shavings.
View attachment 1726322

Your chicken is beautiful

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Hey peeps! I'm new here and I will be getting chicks for the first time! My sister had them and now we are going to get new ones together. So to my question...can I use dry grass in my chick brooder? I have research this before, but could only find ones about having dried grass for grown up chickens. Also if dry grass is bad for chicks, can I use dry leaves?
For the curious here is our order
1 Silkie
2 Buff Orps
2 Black Australorps
2 Speckled Sussex
1 Barred Plymouth Rock

I wouldn’t use dry grass, only because with them being so young and if they eat it, it might give them digestive problems.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I wouldn’t use dry grass, only because with them being so young and if they eat it, it might give them digestive problems.

I'd worry about the same thing.

With dried leave, I've tried them in a coop before but the issue there is if they get wet, they can become slippery or slimy, both of which would be bad for chicks. With my last batch of chicks there were some dried leaves mixed in with the rest of the materials, but because they were not the primary component it didn't have the same issues as 100% dried leaves would.

 

[alexa009]

Hello, welcome to Backyard Chickens! There is always space for members on BYC roost!
I think pine shavings or dry soil is a good suggestion for chick bedding material. I sometimes use alfalfa and it works well but it seems to leave a strong scent in the brooder after.