How long on paper towels

[maclady]

I have 4 BO chicks that are 5 days old. I have them in the brooder with aspen shavings and paper towels over them about 3 layers thick. The chicks keep scratching away until they can get the paper towels moved and into the bedding to scratch. They are eating their starter food and generally having a blast making a mess with it. When can I remove the paper towels out of the brooder? I have seen a couple days on here to the first two weeks for the paper towel over shavings. Thanks you for your help.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Anytime.

Chicks raised naturally under a hen, in a nest of pine needles or in the barn amidst the straw, have no paper towels.

 

[dsqard]

I kept mine on the paper towels for about a week. If they are all running around fine and none seem to be having any leg problems then you are probably good to go and can take the towels out.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

I don't use paper towels at all. Straight onto the shavings they go. I've got about 120 on shavings right now.

 

[AlienChick]

I thought using the paper towels over the shavings was simply to help the chicks see their food sprinkled on top to make it easier for them to eat (in case they don't notice the feed bowl). And it prevents them from eating the bedding material. And this would only be required for the first day or two. And, of course, it helps prevent sprattle legs if the surface underneath the paper towels is slippery.

Also, I've read on here where some people don't use bedding or paper towels at all. They use the rubber-maid shelf liner since it's non-slip and easy to clean and replace.

 

[Gypsy07]

I use kitchen towel to stop the chicks eating the shavings before they figure out what's food and what's not. True, chicks raised naturally under a hen have no paper towels, but they DO have a mother hen looking out for them and showing them what they should and shouldn't be eating. I've seen my chicks trying to eat shavings when they're just a day or two old. After a few days of eating crumbles they generally 'get it' and leave the shavings alone. If there's no spraddle leg issues, I'd say a few days on kitchen towel would be fine. I usually take mine away before they're a week old.

 

[7L Farm]

A.T. Hagan :

I don't use paper towels at all. Straight onto the shavings they go. I've got about 120 on shavings right now.

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