Chicks keep eating shavings!🙄

[Egg_cited]

I have the regular pine shavings flake size. They're are big but of course they pick out the smaller pieces and eat them

 

[Tookie]

Replace the shavings with puppy pads or paper towels. How old are they?

 

[Egg_cited]

Replace the shavings with puppy pads or paper towels. How old are they?

Don't the puppy pads have plastic on them though? What if they eat that? They're from 3 days old-1 week

 

[Tookie]

Don't the puppy pads have plastic on them though? What if they eat that? They're from 3 days old-1 week

Use paper towels then.

 

[SueT]

Chicks peck at and sample the substrate wherever they are. I don’t worry about it. They learn that it’s not food.

 

[Egg_cited]

Use paper towels then.

Will do! At what age can i put the shavings back in?

 

[Egg_cited]

Chicks peck at and sample the substrate wherever they are. I don’t worry about it. They learn that it’s not food.

I am worried at them getting impacted crops though

 

[SueT]

I am worried at them getting impacted crops though

Well, I’ve never seen it happen, and have always used shavings in the brooder. When i let a hen raise babies, she doesn’t stop them from pecking at shavings. She takes them outside at 2 days old where they eat dirt and anything else that fits in their mouths.

 

[Tookie]

Will do! At what age can i put the shavings back in?

I'm not sure, I would keep the paper towels in for a week.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Provide them with grit to help break down any shavings they have eaten.