PSA: Pine shavings suck

[Fluffnut]

Chicks won't nibble on paper towels unless they have a problem
Sand is the same. I use large flaked pine shavings and haven't had a problem, but I'm very sorry they didn't work for you @aliciaFarmer I almost lost one of my chicks to a leg wound last year and remember how that felt!

 

[aliciaFarmer]

A leg wound would be awful! I'm glad you didn't lose it, @Fluffnut. Yeah, the pine shaving thing is weird. I've raised almost 90 and never lost a chick in my life and now two in a week.

A friend of mine used paper towels once and her chicks ate them. They must have had a problem.

 

[Rammy]

I use large dog wee wee pads. Easy clean up. Good footing.

 

[Fluffnut]

I wonder if it's when they're slightly frayed, or some chicks are just more curious. I did have one chick who at a very early age was trying to get out of the brooder and run around because she was bored!

 

[The Phantom]

I've raised about 90 chicks on pine shavings without issues. Just this new brand seems to suck. Two babies dead for the first time ever. And thank you! Sad to lose them.

I even use the mini pine shavings. But I put like 2-3 inches down and compress it with a book. It makes it like a mat. So for the first week it is easy walking for them but they still can dig.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I always put paper towels over the shavings that first week. There's always a few that want to peck and try to eat the shavings, but I've never had a problem. Make sure that you use larger flake.

As far as sand, some say it's great, and others claim their chicks eat too much of it too. There are pluses and minuses to both beddings.

 

[aliciaFarmer]

I use large dog wee wee pads. Easy clean up. Good footing.

That's a good idea.

 

[Acre4Me]

We also use puppy pee pads for the first several days. Good footing, and easy to monitor poops etc. also, the chicks are then focused on water, real chick food, and each other. The pads are really easy to pick up to throw away-they have a thin plastic back.

We used the pads once for a few weeks, but the chicks started to peck them and pick at them (quail). But neither quail nor chicken chicks pick at the pads the first couple of weeks. After a few days to a week on the puppy pee pads, we now move to large shavings. So far, so good.

Sorry you lost some chicks! I’m sure it was the fine bits that were the problem. We used the fine shavings once, but found they matted down too quickly, so just use large flake now. Luckily, never had an issue with the fine flakes, maybe bc we only used them for a short time.

 

[aliciaFarmer]

I just bought puppy pads, @Acre4Me. I have a new batch if babies hatching over the next couple of days so will use those and then switch to sand. It's such a freak thing -- I've never had this issue before with any of my girls or boys. Like I said above though, this is a new brand of kind shavings we've never tried before. I'm definitely never using it again. I'll get the brand name and add it to my post so people know to avoid it. It says it's good for everything from chicks to horses, doesn't say it's fine and is in a white bag you can't see through to what you're buying.

 

[Acre4Me]

I just bought puppy pads, @Acre4Me. I have a new batch if babies hatching over the next couple of days so will use those and then switch to sand. It's such a freak thing -- I've never had this issue before with any of my girls or boys. Like I said above though, this is a new brand of kind shavings we've never tried before. I'm definitely never using it again. I'll get the brand name and add it to my post so people know to avoid it. It says it's good for everything from chicks to horses, doesn't say it's fine and is in a white bag you can't see through to what you're buying.

Good!

Just a note on sand for chicks, based on a recent attendance at a seminar for poultry. They had sessions on a variety of topics. In one session they addressed bedding, including sand. Sand is fine generally, but they noted it was not a good choice for young chicks, primarily due to heat/cold. The top layer of sand is warmed (if using heat lamp), but just under the top layer it is cold, which is not good for the chicks. When they get older and can regulate their temps better, it is fine. When they are adults and looking for relief from the heat, can also be fine - but might also cause the same problem we all experience when trying to traverse sun warmed sand in bare feet - oww - oww- oww!