EMERGENCY - Chicks eating bedding!

[hispoptart]

You could just use a towel to cover the bottom also.

 

[trumpeting_angel]

Don’t panic. I would switch away from the paper towels; a towel might be the best alternative. And I would get some chick grit. Stay calm and remember that for centuries, chicks were raised in the ground. Their mothers taught them what to eat by showing them - pecking at it and dropping tidbits in front of them. You can tap your finger at the food tray, which can get their attention. You can drop tiny tidbits of feed in front of them.

They are funny little critters, cute as a button but so small and seemingly fragile. We worry over them so much! But most of them make it. I winced at every pine shaving mine ate. Mine were started on pine shavings (bought a week old and already on pine shavings at the feed store). Yours probably saw something new and different to peck at with the shavings (normal) and were distracted from their feed. Perhaps if you dropped tiny bits of scrambled egg on their feed it would once again seem novel and exciting. Good luck!

 

[Dgrif5]

Thank you all for the advice! I've swapped them to the pine shavings for now, and I'll get some grit as soon as I can, just in case. They're still pecking around in the shavings, but I'm not sure how much they're actually eating. They've eaten some tiny bits, but I think they're mostly just exploring it. I'll get them some scrambled egg later as well as a treat thanks again for all the support!

 

[hispoptart]

Mine always scratched their food out and then would peck at the shavings to find and eat it. Could that be what they are doing?

 

[txmagiclady]

You can use washable shelf liner if you want to give them some better (non eatable) footing.
They usually have it at Dollar General or Walmart
https://www.walmart.com/ip/EasyLine...MI1dTnqp3p4wIVEZ6fCh3QgQDHEAQYAiABEgJAQPD_BwE

It is inexpensive and cleanable.

 

[Dgrif5]

I'm in the UK, but i'll have a look about and see what I can find If I do that however, will they be unused to proper bedding by the time they go out into the coop, and just eat that instead?

 

[Sooner Magnolia]

sadly, the container is plastic, so I worry that they will just slip everywhere.

You might get a get a big cardboard box or two that could be soiled and thrown away or put an old folded towel in the bottom of the tub.

 

[chickens really]

Pine shavings will not kill them. Provide granite Grit if your concerned..

 

[Sooner Magnolia]

I think as they get bigger they will be better about eating food vs. bedding and ingesting a little pine bedding with their crumble won't be a problem.

 

[Dgrif5]

Well, they seemed to have calmed down with the pine shavings, so I think it'll work out that is for all the support, I was panicking this morning when they were wolfibg down massive pieces of paper towel, but now they seem to be eating their actual food thanks again