We have some 5 day old pullets and I noticed that one of them today scratched a little bowl shape into the pine shavings in the brooder and appeared to be practicing dust bathing. Should I put out a bowl of dust bath stuff for them at this age? And what should I put in it? Also, regarding scratching, should they get any scratch now? I thought they had to be older, but the chicks are scratching a lot. Should I just throw some of their chick starter into the pine for them to scratch for? Do I have to worry about them ingesting any of the pine?
I'm no expert on what you "should" do, but I have raised 50+ peeps and I have 25+ more peeps in my living room right now and here's what I've done: I don't give them scratch until they're outside at 6 weeks and they also have access to grit and pebbles. I made a couple of dust baths for my girls just the other day with peat moss, sand and wood ash (7:7:1 respectively). My peeps dust bathe in their pine shavings, the dust baths are outside with the "big girls". Enjoy your peeps.
Mine peck and scratch and make beds in the pine. I almost sure they were ingesting some of the pine but just small pieces. I picked up some small granite grit and sprinkle it on top of their crumbles and around the pine shavings. Figure it won't hurt them and if they do eat some shavings they should be able to pass them. Good Luck.
