paper towels

[CowgirlPenny]

If you are using paper towels over bedding, how long are you planning to keep the paper towels on there? My chicks are 6 days old and they love to destroy the paper towels. As soon as I put them down they start pulling them back so they can scratch in the Aspen bedding. But I read they may confuse it with food and eat it? Is it safe at this point to remove the paper towels. None appear to have any leg issues at all.

 

[AlienChick]

Three days.

 

[AKsmama]

I agree, three days should be good. They may peck at or eat their bedding, but by now they know where the food is, so I'd take them out.

 

[CowgirlPenny]

Ok, I removed the paper towels and they all immediately started scratching, cutest thing ever! None appeared to be eating it. They might have held it in their beak for a brief second, but they quickly dropped it. They dug a deep hole in the bedding though in several places, should I go back and flatten it back out?

 

[AKsmama]

No, because they'll just dig another hole

I wouldn't worry about it too much. In a few days they'll be dustbathing in their shavings and making a right mess all the time.

 

[FuzzyButtsFarm]

You have a treat coming. Wait till the brooder parties start.

 

[CowgirlPenny]

Brooder parties? LOL I'm afraid to ask!!!

 

[gritsar]

I don't use paper towels at all. When the chicks arrive, I put them directly IN their feeder. Once they know what's food, they may still pick up a piece of the shavings from time to time, but they know where their food is. I've never had a problem with doing it this way.

Baby chicks are just like human peeps. Everything has to go in the mouth to be investigated.

 

[gumbii]

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