Question about gravel/dirt

[Megan Swanek]

I have 2 chickens that are 2 months old. Have only been inside the house. I want to place them outside today but am concerend because the dirt under their run seems to have small pieces of broken cement. DO i need to shovel and remove? Also - I have shavings for under where they roost - but what goes in their nesting boxes? More shavings or will they need hay? Are they alright now without a heat lamp? We live in southern california and it is warm.

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

You're out there in your bare feet, aren't you? I would say the chicks would be just fine. When chickens taste things, they tend to go by 'mouth feel.' Anything sharp is not very tasty.

Do they have any back feathers yet?

 

[Megan Swanek]

You're out there in your bare feet, aren't you? I would say the chicks would be just fine. When chickens taste things, they tend to go by 'mouth feel.' Anything sharp is not very tasty.

Do they have any back feathers yet?

Here's a photo - not sure how to tell if they have back feathers...

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

Oh, yes. Definitely old enough to go without a heat lamp. They are fully feathered, and ready to go.

 

[Megan Swanek]

Oh, yes. Definitely old enough to go without a heat lamp. They are fully feathered, and ready to go.

Thank you! What do i put in their nesting boxes? Are shavings ok or do they prefer hay?

 

[Li'lFlock]

They're still about 3 months from laying age. They say to avoid putting nesting boxes up so they don't want to sleep in them and poop them up. You can place them, but make them not accessible. Turn them or cover the opening for now. That way they'll be familiar with them. There are threads going on about what people use. It sometimes comes down to your girls' or your preference. Lots of options. But shavings are ok. And you can open the boxes up when they get closer to laying.

 

[hlhutchinson]

I have shavings in my neasting box, there are many that like use hay. I have shavings in my coop and did not want to purchase another type of bedding and have to store it. The shavings have been working for me

 

[FlyWheel]

So long as the concrete doesn't have anything harmful in it (like asbestos) I wouldn't worry. To them it's just a different sort of gravel.