lead poisoning from newspaper.

[vjdanko]

So, I'm going to get my first chicks ever in spring. I see in pictures people put newspaper in their boxes. Won't the chicks get lead poisoning from lead in the paint?

 

[1muttsfan]

Lead is no longer used in newspapers, it is a plant-based ink.

However, newspaper is not a very good substrate for chicks, it is too slippery and not very absorbent.

 

[cafarmgirl]

Cover the newspaper with pine shavings. Chicks are prone to getting spraddle leg from being on slippery newspaper and it becomes a wet, poopy mess very fast.

 

[Black wallnut]

The lead was not from the ink it was from the type plate. The ink was applied to plates made from lead alloys, lynotype being one of the most used, and then pressed onto paper. Lead transfer printing most disappeared in the 70's.Lead was also used in paint. Ink is not paint.

The recommendation of using newsprint is only for a day or two so that the chicks do not eat the litter. Once they "learn" where their feed is the newspaper can go away.

 

[McCoysOrps]

So, I'm going to get my first chicks ever in spring. I see in pictures people put newspaper in their boxes. Won't the chicks get lead poisoning from lead in the paint?

Go and get some shavings and put the food and water on a board

 

[vjdanko]

I appreciate the info and advice from all of you. Thanks.