I'm so confused!!

[ChristineSh]

I feel like I'm doing everything wrong. I did my research, choose a pet pen for the brooder, filled it with hemp bedding, waterer, feeder, warming plate, grit for their digestion.
First, I reading they shouldn't have grit for weeks, not until they move to grower food, so I stopped that the first day. Now I'm getting ready to clean up the brooder a week later and went on the see if people prefer Pine shavings or Hemp and I'm reading they shouldn't be in the hemp bedding yet, use paper towels or puppy pads. And someone else said if they're pecking at the shavings make sure they have grit to help digest it...
I've had a couple little issues with pasty butt, seems to be okay now, and then then I think it was the same one with pasty butt started having what looked like seizures...and that's okay now...I think!
All in all they all seem happy and growing.
Do I change out the bedding?
Pine shavings or hemp?
Do I give them grit now? (one week old)

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I never five them grit. I do start giving the chunks of sod to pick at after a week or two, so that probably adds some grit to their diet. They don't need grit to digest a ration.

I've always used pine shavings. I do put down paper towels for the first few days, but remove them by the first week.

Some just seem to have pasty butt. They should grow out of it eventually.

 

[ChristineSh]

Thank you! Thia makes me feel better!

 

[StinkyAcres]

I also start with just puppy pads for the first few days then switch to pine shavings. I give chick grit as soon as they are on shavings at about a week old.

 

[WingItRanch]

Hang in there! You'll get tons of advice and some will be conflicting. I did a ton of research before I got chickens too and I realized that sometimes you have to do trial runs.

For example, I started off with heat plate and realized my chicks were crushing each other and I couldn't get the right temperature or height. So I switched to a heat lamp. I kept having to raise the heat lamp as they aged because I didn't have temp control. Now I solely use the Mama Heating Pad method and I'll never go back.

Chick grit won't hurt them. It's needed if you're giving treats but not if they're only eating regular feed.. Some people suggest it if you find they are snacking on bedding because chicks explore with their beaks.

I think the most important advice is not to panic and just watch your chicks closely (sounds like you do that already).

 

[AshVau22]

Mine go straight from incubator to pine shavings. I only give grit if they'll be eating something other than crumble. That's normally around week 3 or 4 because they go outside for the day if it nice. I've never had any problems. I feel like everyone does something different.

 

[PrettyBirdRocky]

There is no one right way, lol. Just out of the incubator I use paper towel. Then after a week I go to pine/pine pellets. I do give grit, dirt, starter anywhere from 5 days plus.

After the first group you it gets easier lol good luck!