pine shavings?

[CrystalMS]

What is the best thing to put down on the bottom of the brooder? We had a baby chic die today and we found she had a little piece of pine shaving stuck in her mouth. We got it out but she still died. Now we are worried. Any suggestions would help!

 

[sloallie10]

ive heard of wood pellets.

 

[TipsyDog]

I had pine shavings with paper towels over them for 9 days. Today I removed the paper towels and they kicked the pine shavings everywhere. I had to change the water every 15 minutes and their food was covered in it. They did eat some of it too.

I bought a bag of wood pellets. NOT the ones that go in a pellet stove, but horse bedding. I love it. Everything is clean now and I'm not a slave to the brooder anymore. I highly recommend them. I paid about $4 for a 40 pound bag at my local Agway.

Good luck!

edited for lousy spelling....

 

[annek]

A lot of people use puppy pads for the first week or so until the chicks learn not to eat the shavings.

 

[SunnyChic]

For the first week I used puppy pads with paper towels on top then switched to wood pellets.
This is my first time brooding chicks, and the man at the feed store suggested using wood pellets (it's used in horse stalls, too). I don't have anything to compare wood pellets to since this is my 1st time brooding, but they are working great for me. The pellets absorb the moisture of the droppings and there isn't any odor at all.

 

[HenNewbie]

Love the wood pellet idea! Next time (if there is one) I will try that.

We are 4 wks into pine shavings. I got my girls at about 5 - 6 days old and we were sent home with the shavings. Talk about shavings in the water and food..... wow! Not to mention the dust now that the girls are 5wks old and very busy. Seriously... several times a day I had to change the water and clean out their food supply until I hung their food supply and raised the water off the floor of the "brooder". I have not noticed them eating the chips though. My girls are in the mud room and I have to change their shavings every other day. Sounds like the pellets are more absorbing of the odors and moisture.

 

[Peeplperson]

Check out coop & run design/pellets vs. pine shavings

lots of informed opinions

 

[cmom]

I have raised all of my chicks in this wire brooder. There are catch trays under the brooder with shavings in it to catch the poop. Also there is a tray in the brooder with pine shavings in it for the chicks to scratch, peck in and sleep in. The water and feed stays clean. I have never had any problems with their feet going through the wire and they grow so fast. I have always used pine shavings and have never had any problems with my chicks. I have also seen the chicks peck at the shaving but have never actually seen them eat the shavings either.

 

[djswett]

Pardon me for hopping into this thread to ask:

I know cedar is not good, but at the place i went to look today they only had FIR wood pellets....
Is Fir OK?

 

[TipsyDog]

I guess Fir is OK. As long and they are bedding pellets (like for horse stalls). Do NOT use the wood pellets that are meant to be burned in pellet stoves for heat!

My bag doesn't say what they are made out of, but my chicks are all doing great and the bag says "premium horse bedding".