Just what is it about pine shavings and cardboard?

[Momagain1]

that have my chicks scratching to where they finally end up at the cardboard (laid on top of the concrete floor -- the teen brooder lol in the garage)...

and then they peck the heck outta that cardboard and then somehow make a nest out of the pine shavings...

its almost like they are being cradled in the shavings...

these chicks are funny!

They were playing keep away or catch me if you can with a blueberry earlier today...it was hilarious!

 

[gryeyes]

I have pine shavings in Rubbermaid bins, and in the ginormous brooder which is made of galvanized metal. Chicks do the same thing in the shavings there, too. I love the dust-bathing depressions they make, and the little nests they make in the shavings.

Sometimes a chick finds a darker shaving and thinks it's a prize; they play keep away with IT.

Adorable.

 

[OkChickens]

How deep is the shavings? In my 4x10 brooder I have 2" or so of shavings for the 42 2 week old chicks in there and they rarely hit the cardboard on the bottom of the brooder. This is usually around the feeders and waterers. Maybe add a little bit more shavings to thicken it up.

Nate