Mini Flake Pine Shavings for Chicks??

[Rick&Chris]

Thanks. Those pine shavings look like what I got from the local feed store. I haven’t used them yet (my girls are 2 weeks old) - they’ve been on puppy pee pads. Moving them to our outside 6’x6’ enclosed coop (alone, no other chickens) later today with a mama heating pad set up. It’s in the 70’s today and supposed to be in the 80’s all week - next weekend it will be ‘normal’ in the 60’s. I think they’ll do OK with the MHP ....

 

[aart]

It’s in the 70’s today and supposed to be in the 80’s all week - next weekend it will be ‘normal’ in the 60’s. I think they’ll do OK with the MHP ....

Yep, they will.
I use a tote lid for feed and water in the(in brooder too) coop over the shavings for a week or so.

 

[Rick&Chris]

Nice set up! And cute chicks! I have a plastic pad to put their food and water on (I think it is a boot tray with a 1” side lip)

I’m checking my heating pad now to make sure that it doesn’t automatically shut off.

 

[aart]

Nice set up! And cute chicks! I have a plastic pad to put their food and water on (I think it is a boot tray with a 1” side lip)

I’m checking my heating pad now to make sure that it doesn’t automatically shut off.

My tote lid has 1x2's screwed to the bottom to raise it above the shavings.
Tray under MHP is upside down wire crate tray, lip there holds legs nicely.

 

[Rick&Chris]

What was the reason for putting the wood under the lid? Looks like they might be on a concrete floor? Additional insulation?

 

[Helloworld]

We use puppy pads. Nails catch to the cotton better making it easier to balance. We have plastic totes so shavings just get in food and water. I put several layers and as they get wet/dirty we remove one at a time. Easy clean up. In Florida, our chickens eat shavings and paper lol.

 

[aart]

What was the reason for putting the wood under the lid? Looks like they might be on a concrete floor? Additional insulation?

Just to stabilize it and raise it up a bit.
That's the floor of my brooder, plastic over plywood, dusty with PDZ remains.

We use puppy pads.

Have used those, saw a chick try to scratch on it, toenail got caught in pad and it tipped it self right over

 

[Rick&Chris]

I was afraid they would eat the shavings, so I haven’t used them yet ....

 

[aart]

I was afraid they would eat the shavings, so I haven’t used them yet ....

They may eat a few, good reason for feed on tray, but the will soon learn they are not food.

 

[Gray Farms]

Thanks! You never had an issue with your babies ingesting the mini flakes?

"If" they eat some its not effected them.