Paper Towels vs. Shavings for 3 Day Old Chicks

[BantyChickenLuv]

Is it better to use paper towels or shaving for 4 day old chicks? I'm getting mine tomorrow, (6) and I'm pretty sure they hatched on Monday. Why do so many people use paper towels for the first week or so? I'm debating if I should put shavings (what I normally use for chicks.) or paper towels in the brooder right now.
Thanks, Banty

 

[hokankai]

I do paper towels for weewee pads for the first two days so that they learn what's food and what's not. Sometimes chicks will try and eat the bedding if they are put on shavings first.

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

I always tried to go to day five with paper towels. I kept having chicks that decided the smaller flakes were food. :/

 

[NotableNancy]

I was going to go with paper towels on top of shavings for a few days. I hear they may try to eat the shavings mistaking it for food. Also read to put some food right on top of the paper towels a day or 2 until they can all find the feeder.

But - since I've never had a chick in my life maybe I'm completely off

just relaying what I read and what I'm going to do

Best of luck and I'm sooooo jealous. I have to wait until April

 

[BantyChickenLuv]

Thanks everyone. I guess I'll set up the brooder with paper towels. I'll post pics of the chicks tomorrow I've been waiting for these guys for 4 months now and just got the call that they would be here on Friday Tuesday.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

I have 25 bantams coming tomorrow morning and I am super excited this is the 2nd time I have ordered form Ideal poultry and I highly recommend them. I have 20 eggs in the incubator also. Every time it is brand new all over again and I get excited like a kid on xmas eve lol. I use the non slip shelf liner int eh bottom for the first week. then I add shavings in ontop of the liner. I like to keep the liner in for grip. I made a new brooder because I have 16 1 month olds in a brooder in my master bathroom. The eggs due to hatch the end of the month and then these bantams coming tomorrow as a bday gift, thank you mom. So I have one more brooder to make. This one for the new arrivals tomorrow is a playpen for babies. I converted it into a brooder. I just have to make a top for it and I covered the mesh sides to hold in heat. simple. Good luck with yours. Post pics.

 

[BantyChickenLuv]

I ordered mine from Duane Urch as I am planning on showing them. They are Heritage RIR rose comb Bantams. We built a new brooder too, it's huge, I could put 25 chicks in there no problem. It will also double as a quarantine pen for new birds.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

I ordered mine from Duane Urch as I am planning on showing them. They are Heritage RIR rose comb Bantams. We built a new brooder too, it's huge, I could put 25 chicks in there no problem. It will also double as a quarantine pen for new birds.

When will your arrive? Isnt it exciting everytime?

 

[BantyChickenLuv]

I'm picking them up tomorrow evening. They have arrived though, a friend is taking care of them for me right now.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

Wonderful. Mine arrived this morning. 35 chirping chicks only 3 DOA