Tissue Paper bedding

[3LilBirds]

I've been using tissue paper with paper towels on top for about 2 weeks now. The carefresh was super messy, plus with them being on my computer desk I've been cleaning the cage out at least 3 times a day to keep the smell down. Well just a minute ago, Mumble who is a little over 3 weeks old now just ate a piece of tissue paper. Is that going to cause a health issue? I wasn't quick enough to grab it away from her/him. I don't have old towels unfortunately so should I change what I'm doing for the bedding. What should I use?

 

[BlazeJester]

No, but you can get rid of the paper bedding. I brought home day-olds from TSC last Monday and put them straight onto pine shavings. They've been fine and they don't stink - they lived in my bedroom until today and I had several other batches in my bedroom for WEEKS - just doubled their living space by opening up and connecting the plastic dog crate! WOO!!!

 

[3LilBirds]

The only reason I haven't used pine shavings is I'm sensitive to it. I break out in hives if I touch it and it makes me sneeze. LOL siiigh I think I might just have to put up with it and get some. During the day I've been putting them in the port a crib with their heat lamp. They love it. They run around chasing each other and try flying. LOL I can't leave them in there all night because of my big dog and cat. I don't trust them.

 

[3LilBirds]

Oh and Thank you!

 

[BlazeJester]

Oh no! That's miserable. ummm... some people use sand for their chicks, and yours sound like they're several weeks old so they should be able to deal with sand. If your brooder's walls are high enough you can put them on playground sand (it's like $3 for a 20lb bag at the hardware store). Makes it easy to scoop the poop, too!

I also use a HEPA air filter (mine is huge and round) which helps a LOT in keeping the dust down. I think sand would be more manageable than shavings when it comes to dust.

 

[3LilBirds]

Hmmm not sure if hubby will go for sand because of all the computers around but I'll ask him. They are only 3 weeks old though. Is sand still ok?

 

[Elissa]

There is a paper-based shred bedding available, it's a lot more expensive than pine, but widely available... I used it when we had hamsters. It's very absorbent, and hypoallergenic, but like I said, about twice as much as the pine, where I have purchased it at Target.

 

[nataliab]

Please don use any type of paper bedding: I had three sets of hatches all separate on different types of paper bed dogs and they ate it and I had some poop blood and some die, nothing else was wrong I will never use paper bedding. It gets wet as they scratch an eat it.

 

[realsis]

I would NOT use tissue paper or sand. It can impact the crops. Maybe the above post can help how they suggested hamster bedding? I hope you can find something you can live with! Let us know what you find. I've always used pine shavings. You don't ever want to use ceder as its toxic to the chicks. Keep us posted and good luck.

 

[Champy89]

This person seems to think quite highly of sand: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/751747/sand-in-the-brooder-its-worth-it

I think it should be fine as long as it's not beach sand, which apparently has too high a salt content if they do ingest it? If your husband is okay with it, I mean.