Eating shavings

[tsperry88]

I know this must have been posted 1000 times. My chicks are 7 days old. I just switched from paper towels to pines shaving These crazy things scratch like crazy all the way to the bottom and eat the fines. I'm fairly sure it's not food they have scratched out, as my feeders make that really hard and they aren't scratching by the feeders. Should I just let them eat away?

 

[azygous]

Baby chicks scratch and search for grit just as adult chickens do. They are likely substituting small shavings particles for grit. This can potentially cause impacted crops if they aren't drinking enough water to wash them through their digestive systems.

All you need to do is buy some chick grit and make it available in their brooder. This will kit out their gizzards with gravel to digest any shavings they eat. If you think your chicks have eaten a lot of shavings and you notice some acting lethargically, give them coconut oil and that will help them pass the shavings.

 

[tsperry88]

They actually have free access to a feeders filled with chick gritt. I am using scratch and peck brand everything, and following their instructions. They eat the gritt in moderation.

 

[azygous]

Then your chicks should not have any problem with eating a small amount of shavings as long as they are drinking plenty of water.

Chicks are curious critters and sample just about everything, including each other at times. The objects of their curiosity at this young age is fleeting, and they quickly move on from things that might be troublesome before they become a problem.

 

[tsperry88]

Ok. Thank you. Hopefully the pine shaving fad passes.

 

[tsperry88]

They seem to enjoy the hunt for something to eat in the shavings. Should I sprinkle food or grit for them to find?

 

[azygous]

Yes. That does provide activity for baby chicks and satisfies an important urge.

However, keep the bulk of their food up off the floor so they are exposed to a minimum of bacteria from their poops.

 

[TomDavidson]

I know this must have been posted 1000 times. My chicks are 7 days old. I just switched from paper towels to pines shaving These crazy things scratch like crazy all the way to the bottom and eat the fines. I'm fairly sure it's not food they have scratched out, as my feeders make that really hard and they aren't scratching by the feeders. Should I just let them eat away?

I've bred my chickens for years and I've never had such issues. Maybe the shavings are under the straw. Try using bay, this one has great absorption and smell is pretty good

 

[Mouthpear]

I know this must have been posted 1000 times. My chicks are 7 days old. I just switched from paper towels to pines shaving These crazy things scratch like crazy all the way to the bottom and eat the fines. I'm fairly sure it's not food they have scratched out, as my feeders make that really hard and they aren't scratching by the feeders. Should I just let them eat away?

I have never used shavings or any other type of bedding in my brooder cage. I use a large square hardware cloth and a tiny mesh/square hardware cloth on top. As they get older and their poops get bigger, I change out the top cloth and go bigger.

I suggest you just take out the bedding.