Sneezing Silkie chick?

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Hubby went to a local feed and seed and the guy up there suggested pine needles, he uses that for his chicks and chickens! And it's free!!!!!! Do you agree that it is safe??
 
Pine needles are safe to use. I tried them once and my birds were eating them. LOL So I got rid of them.

I had a 2 week old chick get poked with a pine needle in the leg and caused an infection under her scales. Poor bird was in vet wrap so early in life!! LOL But I am sure this is a rare occurrence.

Pine needles can harbor bugs and bacteria. So I would try to collect the dry stuff on top that looks clean. Going to deeply to dig them up and there is a lot of decaying crud down there.

You might try sand when they are ready for the coop. I switched my flocks over to sand a few years ago, and will NEVER go back to regular bedding! Sand absorbs poop and their smells, it repels flies, stays dry when wet and if you live in a hot climate, hosing the sand down in the summer time really keeps the birds cool. Poultry lose heat through their feet. Sand is cool as the water evaporates. So cool feet mean cooler birds! I wet mine down and then turn it all over 30 mins later and the floor is super cool!

Here is a good thread on sand if you need more info...https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/444759/got-sand-you-should
 
Last edited:
TwoCrows said:
Pine needles are safe to use. I tried them once and my birds were eating them. LOL So I got rid of them.

I had a 2 week old chick get poked with a pine needle in the leg and caused an infection under her scales. Poor bird was in vet wrap so early in life!! LOL But I am sure this is a rare occurrence. 

Pine needles can harbor bugs and bacteria. So I would try to collect the dry stuff on top that looks clean. Going to deeply to dig them up and there is a lot of decaying crud down there.

You might try sand when they are ready for the coop. I switched my flocks over to sand a few years ago, and will NEVER go back to regular bedding! Sand absorbs poop and their smells, it repels flies, stays dry when wet and if you live in a hot climate, hosing the sand down in the summer time really keeps the birds cool. Poultry lose heat through their feet. Sand is cool as the water evaporates. So cool feet mean cooler birds! I wet mine down and then turn it all over 30 mins later and the floor is super cool!

Here is a good thread on sand if you need more info...https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/444759/got-sand-you-should
Click to expand...


Lol! Well I do hope nobody gets stabbed by pine needles!! Ouch! Thank you so much for all of this info! Very helpful!!!!!
 
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I'm glad you joined our community!

I hope your chick is okay!
 
400


I think they feel MUCH better! Is it weird that they actually get on the fleece shelf and the flower perch???? They seem to love them...
 
Thank you! And yes, the chick seems to be much better with the new bedding. A friend of our's had a whole bucket fuuuull of it and gave it all to us! So, no pine needles, either. :)
 
TwoCrows said:
It blew up into a juicy infection. I used neosporin on it for a week. She lost 2 scales because of it. Took about a year to regrow them! She survived the ordeal. LOL
Click to expand...


Holy chicken, that's cray cray!!!! Super glad she survived!!!! Infections are rough, no matter!
 

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