In a pickle here

[Sarahloveslulu]

I have 3 surviving blue slate baby chicks.They keep eating the shavings.They eat the big and the small.There only 1 week old.They have food and water.I don't know what to do.

 

[Ryguy3684]

Are they actually eating the bedding? Mine looked like they were, but they were actually picking out the little pieces of food they scratched out of the feeder. What type of bedding are you using?

 

[keesmom]

Are these chicks or poults?

 

[bluemtnwmn]

My chicks also seemed to be 'eating' the shavings of their pine bedding but it never hurt them. If it's worrying you a lot, cover the bedding with paper towels (newspaper is too slick and can cause leg problems) for a few days to a week so that they get into a good habit of only eating their food. They do like to peck and scratch so it may just look like they're 'eating'.

 

[Shadrach]

I have 3 surviving blue slate baby chicks.They keep eating the shavings.They eat the big and the small.There only 1 week old.They have food and water.I don't know what to do.

Does this mean you had more chicks but they died and you believe it was from eating shavings?
The obvious answer is to remove the shavings and use something else for bedding if bedding is necessary.

 

[Mamatomany123]

Mine always eat shavings. Make sure theres grit of some sort available and theyll be fine.

 

[RebelChief]

What kind of shavings are you using?