TOO MANY CONTRIDICTIONS. Frustrated chicken mom

[TransplantedTexan]

I have always seen no paper, particularly newpaper. this is because of spradle leg as you mentioned. I used peat moss as directed some where I read. I will never use it again, it was filthy. It got in the waterer.
I switched to hay.
Don't know what I will use next time, maybe thick wood shavings.
I did have one chick whose legs went kinda out to the sides, and the others quickly smooshed him.

 

[arlee453]

Used pine shavings, no paper and they did not eat the shavings - they knew the food from the get go (they hatched out on Mon at Meyer and were in the brooder at our house by 10am on tues)

As far as heat, I hung the brooder lamp over the pen and just watched them to know if they were cold (all huddled together under the lamp) or too hot (scattered all around, avoiding the light.

If you have enough room for them to escape the lamp if it gets too hot, have them in a non-drafty spot and provide food and water they'll be fine.

Enjoy your babies!

Susan

 

[seminolewind]

Another vote for paper towels over shavings, the paper towels for at least the first day. I am starting out too, and learning alot on this board. Karen

 

[EweSheep]

Well, I've used both newspaper and paper towels....must say paper towels wins hands down.

I've used newspaper on my cages, wire floors for the first few days and not a problem there....only ONE piece of newspaper, not several layers. I do this clean up twice a day.....the newspaper was thin enough to make contact with the wire beneath it so they still have a "grip" to it. As for flat floors, no newspaper, paper towels are the best.

 

[ml]

Shelf liners either from Walmart for under a buck or the dollar store. I just wash/bleach them and reuse them. They are great till you decided what to use in stead when the chicks are bigger.

ML

 

[TxChiknRanchers]

IF you like "a firm set of rules" chicken "farmin" is gonna make you hate life.

hang in there chickens were doing ok before we could walk erect.

It aint that complicated all of the rules you have quoted are believed and honored by each of the people that gave them to you and their chicks all did fine except for the ones that didn't.