Can they be on shavings? Eating paper towels!!!

[bionic_chicken]

They are two weeks old tomorrow. I started them for a few days on paper towel-covered pine shavings. One had a slow crop, so I put them on paper towels only, for fear of them eating shavings. Now they are eating the paper towels. I've given distracting things like dirt/grass clods from the run and grit piles to play with. They are still eating paper towel pieces. They seem to have no ill effects, but I know it can't be good. I couldn't get paper pulp lining from my grocery store - they throw it away and won't give it away. I tried butcher paper, but it's not absorbent enough to soak up the poo. Should I try the shavings again?

 

[bionic_chicken]

I guess I'll put them on the shavings. I think that's what the majority of you do, and your chicks live. Just checking to see if there were any objections...

 

[Acre of Blessings]

They are to young to be on grit. If you use pine shavings they will be just fine. But take them off the grit until they are about 6 to 7 weeks old.

 

[Vamp-A-Billy Princess]

I have mine on shavings right away I'd say at 2 or 3 days old. You shouldn't have a problem.

 

[Chirpy]

I didn't know any better last year when I got my first chicks and just kept them on the shavings. I had no problem.

However... my chicks were probably close to a week old when I got them so I don't know if that made any difference.

 

[bionic_chicken]

chickcrew, I gave them the grit because the feed store guy loaded the wrong feed - huge crumbles of grower/starter. It only has 18% protein! Everyone's poo got really dry and hard. Also, the steady diet of paper towel concerned me. I thought maybe the grit would help move these things through. I'm getting the original mash I was using in the morning. Should I still take away the grit? I can't tell from the ingredients if this stuff contains any grit. The crumbles are sooooo much bigger than the mash. I tried to grind it up, but it turned into flour, then everyone was sneezing and wiping beaks after eating. So, still take away the grit?

 

[Frizzledhen]

The papertowel is used for the first few days while the chicks learn to eat their food. That way they don't learn to eat the shavings. They don't need grit even with starter/grower.

 

[bionic_chicken]

OK, thanks.

 

[McGoo]

Definitely go with shavings. I've had mine on them since about 3 days old. They do eat some of them, but it's really not a problem.

All the best.

 

[12 Acres]

Quote:
I find things often go great when I don't "know any better"!

Honestly, I think a lot of folks overthink raising chickens. But I grew up in the country and I don't see chickens as pets like a lot of folks here do.

I had my baby chicks on pine shavings at 3 days. The paper towels help prevent splay-leg because it gives them something non-slippery to stand on.