They are eating the Pine Chips

[BarredBuff]

They are eating the pine chips along with their feed, what do I do?

 

[Happy Chooks]

How old are they?

I took mine off paper towels at 5 days old, and they do scratch around in the pine shavings. As long as they're still eating the food, it's fine. They're probably just "tasting" it.

 

[BarredBuff]

They are day olds I got them today.

 

[Texasboy4ever]

I think they are just scratching and pecking. I put mine on pine chips the day they come out of the incubator they will be fine

 

[PoultryPedia]

I cover the shavings with paper towels until they are about 5 days old & have experience in what food is supposed to look and taste like. I do still keep the shavings underneath during that time, though--for cushioning & absorbency--rather than just using paper towels.

 

[Texasboy4ever]

I've never used paper towels, I was afraid they might eat them. But everyone has their on way off doing things that work for them. As long as the chick comes out healthy that''s the main thing

 

[Kittymomma]

Why it does happen occasionaly they're probably not really eating them. The just try everything out with their mouth the same as all babies. Don't worry too much and enjoy your new little fuzzy butts!

 

[fastpat]

I put my new chicks on newspaper the first 24 hours while they had access to both a feeder and waterer. The second day I pulled up the newspapers and put down aspen wood chips which they love to scratch in, making them fly all over the place, but I don't think they're eating the wood much, if any. The feeders (I added a second one) need to be filled once a day, so I'm pretty sure they're eating the right thing.

 

[PoultryPedia]

CAUTION CAUTION:
DO NOT USE NEWSPAPERS OR ANY OTHER SLICK FOOTING FOR CHICKS. That can big-time lead to splayed leg. See info on the web page linked in my sig.

 

[PoultryPedia]

Quote:
I don't use shredded paper towels. I use sheets of paper towels laid flat to create a floor across the top of a couple inches of shavings, and replace the paper towels as they become dirty. When the chicks are a few days old, I take the paper towels off permanently.
I feel concerned that eating too much shavings could cause pasty butt or another problem.