Hay or wood shaving?

[Tiger1979]

What is better to use for bedding for baby chicks I currently have hay but considering on changing this to wood shavings

 

[Matt119911]

Yes for chicks use pine shavings they soak up more liquid and dont smell horrible

 

[LlamaGirl4]

Wood shavings are better. It doesn’t stink as much

 

[Ducksandchickens]

I’ve only used wood shavings and they’ve worked for me!

 

[SueT]

You will have to change bedding more and more often as they grow messier and messier. I think shavings are easier to clean up. Try it and compare.

 

[chickens really]

Hay actually is feed. Straw rots too quickly. I use pine shavings.

 

[aart]

I use paper towels over PDZ in the brooder for the first few days...then they go out into coop with pine shavings.

 

[Chickassan]

I use alfafa hay, they can eat it with no issues. I was doing shavings but I had a shavings eater.
No scent issues with alfalfa hay, it smells nice and depending on brooder size and number of chicks won't be around long enough to get smelly.
Normal hay though, would get smelly and is a bit much for chicks to eat.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Wood shavings.

 

[Acre4Me]

Puppy pee pads first few days. They are larger, absorbent and chicks can get traction on them (no splay legs). Can keep good eye on eating and poops at first. Then I switch to larger shavings. Cheap puppy pee pads at Walmart or similar.