I am so so appreciative of all your advice and wisdom.
I will say that I am not afraid of letting my chickens touch the pine shavings, but I did not realize that it was necessary. For a brooder we are using an old charcoal grill (It is very large). It has grates on the top where I am able to rest the heat lamp, and grates on the bottom where the chickens walk. Under the bottom grate it has a pull out drawer where I have the pine shavings. This makes cleaning the brooder so much easier without having to move or disturb the chickens. The metal that the grate is made of is much much thicker than wire, and they actually seem to have a very firm footing. I also have added a fairly large piece of cardboard on one half of the brooder, under the feeder so I don't lose so much feed when they scratch it out, and they are enjoying the new surface to walk on.
Having said all of this, however, I will tell you that the bottom grates are easily removable and I plan on going home tonight and removing them so the chicks set right on the pine shavings. I had always intended of doing this, even before reading your posts, but they were just doing so good on the grate, I thought I would keep the ease of cleaning.
Being so new to chickens I have been trying to absorb as much information and direction as I can, and then rightly divide it. As so many people and books talk about the importance of proper sanitation for your chickens to guard against disease and vermon, I thought it would help that they weren't touching their poop, and that I change it about every other day, and sine Orscheln was keeping them on a similar system that I was, I thought that was great. I am, by no means, trying to argue with anyone here, just trying to let you know the thought process that led to my decisions. I value all of your advice, wisdom, and knowledge so much.
Thank you all.
Any more advice for me?
That's what BYC is all about! You ask, receive information, sort through it, and apply the best information for your needs. Just remember to keep asking questions and read other's questions and you will learn a ton!