Eating paper towels

[chic101]

Our chicks are 3 weeks old. I have them in a extra large dog crate our friends let us borrow. The bottom has a large black tray that I have covered with paper towels. They've been in here for a week and a half. They are growing great. I've been feeding them chick starter. I just noticed yesterday that it seems like they are eating the paper towels. Is this ok?
I do sprinkle pine shavings but I noticed they were scratching and getting the shavings all out of the space. So I don't put too much.

Should I stop using the paper towels? Get sand in there?( we have carpet down and I'm trying to avoid too much mess) I want them to be happy and healthy little chicks.

 

[rides2far]

I used the grippy shelf liner recommended by a previous poster. They were reusable, easy to clean, & I have them for next time! By the time mine were 3 weeks old, I had newspaper down, with shavings on top. All mine r fine, zero leg problems. I did use plenty of shavings. (I have horses, so I have lots of shavings).

 

[Diannastarr]

I had my chicks on paper towels until around 10 weeks, then i saw one with a piece of paper in her mouth,i got it out of her mouth , so that was the end of the paper towels, i use brown paper bags now cut to shape in the brooder , the brown paper is not slippery and they cant eat it, at least i hope not

....lol.

gosh...lol..