Help! Chicks irritated by pine shavings!

[cheepsforkeeps]

; Does anyone have an alternative to pine shavings? I took my chicks to the vet thinking they had a CRD. They were developing raspy cheeps, wheezing and head flicking. Vet said they were very healthy and to remove shavings and see what happens. Within a day they were much better. I have been using newspaper and I have chicks with clear lungs but now it's a lot of work to constantly change the papers. What a mess! Suggestions much appreciated!

 

[Brindlebtch]

Cedar chips or shavings are toxic to chicks, but pine shaving are not. Are you sure you had pine shavings? The effects you described sound very much like chicks being irritated by the oils in cedar shavings.

 

[ranchhand]

I've never had a problem with shavings except cedar ones. Are there any cedar pieces mixed in?

 

[AccioSarah]

I've heard Newspaper can cause spradle leg- I recommend paper towels.

 

[jbowyer01]

I use aspen shavings from TSC. I also use pine shavings and have never had a problem. Just make sure you dont use anything with aromatic oils in it. I would also change to papertowels, easy clean up and it wont cause leg issues.

 

[nathan and lindsay]

I do use shavings with no ill effects, but I wondered if anyone has tried shredded newspaper.
Lindsay

 

[bigstack]

I use the small blue puppy pads for my chicks! I had a pkg. left over and figured why not? They are great!!!! They will give if over the chips and are not stiff and slippery like paper! I've been using them ever since. I have had no probs! They are super absorbant and are a sinch to change. They are also cheap!!

Good luck and God Bless!

 

[Supermommy486]

You could use sand.

 

[cheepsforkeeps]

Yes, they are pine shavings. They have a lot of dust!!! THe brand is Thoroughbreed (It's a very big bag thats compressed) . Only one one chick was raspy, but all where flicking heads. I even did an experiment of adding back in just a small amount of shavings last night. Got up this morning and they are all flicking their heads in irritation again. I am actually using a few layers of paper towels:cd over the newspaper. They are 3 weeks old. Do you think I should just try a different brand of pine shavings?

 

[Keenonf]

I used shredded paper a lot. Its pretty good but it doesn't soak up the feces like the shavings do. But I think that would be a good alternative. Good luck