Ok so last week I got my 20 red sex link chicks. all doing very well. Very energetic and playful. However I waited to buy a feeder because the farm where I got them from told me they always have them in stock. Turns out they had these huge things as feeders and waterers but nothing for tiny chicks. So I decided to use a couple of things I have laying around the house to put feed into but the issue is they knock it all out, scrath it off anduse the feeder to sleep in... and I am going through feed like crazy!!!!! Any ideas on how I can get a useful feeder until they can use the really big one. The farm told me they could order one but it would take a while. I live in a tiny town so its either get in a car and drive severel hundred kilometers to find a feed store/pet store, order one and wait weeks, or figure something out. Ideas Please 
Now the bedding. when I brought them home I set them up in the brooder with 3 inches of pine shavings and then newspapers on top. I read and was told newspaper can cause foot problems in chickens so only to use it for a couple days and then remove it. However when I did that the chicks started eating the pine shavings immediately. they went all crazy and at one point I had to literally take a big piece out of one of the chicks' mouth cause she was choking on it. They peck at it until its small enough to fit in their mouths, so I put the newspaper back in fearing they will all die from eating the shavings. So today I took them all out removed all the newspaper laid cleaned newspaper down like I do everyday. Disinfected everything and then I added a thin layer of meadow hay. The chicks were petrified of it at first, not one of them wanted to step on it so they were trying to stand on top of each other !!?? anyhow I just want to know if this method of mine will be ok until they are old enough that I can use something else.?? As of right now they have settled down and they realized that I sprinkled feed in the hay for them to find so they seem ok!
Now the bedding. when I brought them home I set them up in the brooder with 3 inches of pine shavings and then newspapers on top. I read and was told newspaper can cause foot problems in chickens so only to use it for a couple days and then remove it. However when I did that the chicks started eating the pine shavings immediately. they went all crazy and at one point I had to literally take a big piece out of one of the chicks' mouth cause she was choking on it. They peck at it until its small enough to fit in their mouths, so I put the newspaper back in fearing they will all die from eating the shavings. So today I took them all out removed all the newspaper laid cleaned newspaper down like I do everyday. Disinfected everything and then I added a thin layer of meadow hay. The chicks were petrified of it at first, not one of them wanted to step on it so they were trying to stand on top of each other !!?? anyhow I just want to know if this method of mine will be ok until they are old enough that I can use something else.?? As of right now they have settled down and they realized that I sprinkled feed in the hay for them to find so they seem ok!
