EMERGENCY - Chicks eating bedding!

[Dgrif5]

Sorry to bother you, but i'm panicking and i'm at my wits end here!!

my chicks are two weeks old now, and have been doing well. A few days ago, I tried to transition them from paper towels to pine shavings, but they were just running around eating the shavings, and ignoring their food! So I though, I'll leave them on paper towels for a bit longer, and try again when they're older. But today, I just took them out, put fresh paper in, and put them back in, just like I always do. Only this time, they flat out ignored their food, rushed to one corner of their pen, and have started eating all the paper towels! they're not just playing with it, they're eating big chucks of it at a time!! I've tried sprinkling some food down, pushing them away form the bedding, nothing is working!! they've eaten loads so far, and i'm really worried its going to hurt them!... I haven't given them any grit, as all they've eaten is chick starter, do I need to get some now to help them break down all the bedding they've eaten!? I don't know what to do!

 

[Shadrach]

Sorry to bother you, but i'm panicking and i'm at my wits end here!!

my chicks are two weeks old now, and have been doing well. A few days ago, I tried to transition them from paper towels to pine shavings, but they were just running around eating the shavings, and ignoring their food! So I though, I'll leave them on paper towels for a bit longer, and try again when they're older. But today, I just took them out, put fresh paper in, and put them back in, just like I always do. Only this time, they flat out ignored their food, rushed to one corner of their pen, and have started eating all the paper towels! they're not just playing with it, they're eating big chucks of it at a time!! I've tried sprinkling some food down, pushing them away form the bedding, nothing is working!! they've eaten loads so far, and i'm really worried its going to hurt them!... I haven't given them any grit, as all they've eaten is chick starter, do I need to get some now to help them break down all the bedding they've eaten!? I don't know what to do!

Remove all the bedding and anything else that may be edible and leave in the food and water.

 

[Dgrif5]

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

 

[Steven Bussell]

I understand you worrying. I just went through the same thing with my mixed flock.
I also didn't give them grits until they the day before we started giving them treats.
I used the fine pine shavings and they did eat some. They will be 9 weeks old tomorrow and doing great.
I'm not sure how much yours are eating. Grab some chick grits and throw it on the floor .

 

[Dgrif5]

so best to swap to the pine shavings and hope they're not eating too much, or just put nothing in at all?

 

[Chris-n-Kate]

Mine eat the shaving too so I put grit in and they’ve all done well.

 

[Steven Bussell]

I would....I'm new to keeping birds myself .But because I read almost every post on here I learned from many people it's going to be ok if they eat it. Its can be confusing because we can't give treats to them without them having grits. I didn't give mine grits and they were fine. You can give grits just so that you can have a piece of mind. Plus it's fun watching them enjoy treats. Just don't over do what you give them.

 

[sealer39]

Cut some cardboard to fit the bottom of the brooder. It should be less slick than the plastic. Then sprinkle the crumbles on it and close to the feeder. Hopefully they’ll get the idea.

 

[Michael Propst]

Not sure where you are getting you shavings. But if you have a Tractor Supply nearby they have both shavings and flake. I always use flake as it is a much larger piece. Might be worth a try if you have access to buying flake. Tractor Supply Pine Flake

 

[21hens-incharge]

You can use washable shelf liner if you want to give them some better (non eatable) footing.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/EasyLine...MI1dTnqp3p4wIVEZ6fCh3QgQDHEAQYAiABEgJAQPD_BwE

It is inexpensive and cleanable.