Trouble deciding on bedding for brooder! Sand vs Shavings

[WyattNorthcut]

I have 16 chicks (which hatched the 13th) arriving today or tomorrow and I don't know what kind of bedding to put in the brooder. I think I am going to lay down paper towels on top of the bedding regardless of the type of bedding for the first few days just so that the chicks will know to eat the food and not the floor. But I've read many articles about the amazing benefits of sand and many articles about how sand is an evil chicken killer that shouldn't be used. Any opinions?

 

[BirdGirl2004]

First and foremost...!
I hope that you enjoy this site as much as the rest of us do! I have learned SOOOOO much from this site, and I hope you do too!
Me personally, I love pine shavings! I purchase the fine, no dust shavings, and they're great for both chicks and adult hens. I raise my show chickens in it as well.
Although I'm not anti sand, I don't prefer using it because my feed looks like sand, and they tend to eat it! It also gets pretty cold here, and if it was wet even a little bit it would freeze and be hard to scrape out! It also tends to smell more, and isn't as absorbent as pine shavings. Hope this helps!!
Good luck

 

[BirdGirl2004]

Post some pics of your new chicks... I'm sure we'd all LOVE to see them, and new chicks are SOOOOOO much fun!!!

I have 16 chicks (which hatched the 13th) arriving today or tomorrow and I don't know what kind of bedding to put in the brooder. I think I am going to lay down paper towels on top of the bedding regardless of the type of bedding for the first few days just so that the chicks will know to eat the food and not the floor. But I've read many articles about the amazing benefits of sand and many articles about how sand is an evil chicken killer that shouldn't be used. Any opinions?[/QUOTE from

 

[WyattNorthcut]

Post some pics of your new chicks... I'm sure we'd all LOVE to see them, and new chicks are SOOOOOO much fun!!!

Thanks for the bedding input! And I will definitely post some good chick pics once they get here hopefully today or tomorrow, I can't wait!

 

[4 ever Orpington]

I have 16 chicks (which hatched the 13th) arriving today or tomorrow and I don't know what kind of bedding to put in the brooder. I think I am going to lay down paper towels on top of the bedding regardless of the type of bedding for the first few days just so that the chicks will know to eat the food and not the floor. But I've read many articles about the amazing benefits of sand and many articles about how sand is an evil chicken killer that shouldn't be used. Any opinions?