Warning about shavings in the brooder

[firedove]

My 3 week old chicks had shavings over newspaper. The paper was to protect the wood brooder. The chicks moved all the shavings out of the way and shredded the newspaper into tiny pieces all in one night. Next morning it was just a mess of shavings and newspaper shreds. Of course the waterer was filled with soggy newspaper too. I'd rather clean shavings out of the water than soggy newspaper. I think, when chicks get to a few weeks old, shavings or pellets is best.

 

[Delta2 23]

When Feathers and Eggie were chicks they never had shavings. I got the cardboard box brooder ready ages before we got them- I picked lots of grass clippings and dried them out in the sun. Then I just put the grass over a layer of newspaper on the floor of the brooder. The grass is kind of springy so it's very soft for them.

 

[preppy*hippie*chick]

I was thinking of using peat moss when my chicks come. Anyone have an opinion?

 

[firedove]

things like hay and dried grass can be dangerous too. They can sometimes swallow that stuff and it gets bound up inside them. The long thin nature of it makes it easy to swallow but hard to digest.

 

[Delta2 23]

preppy*hippie*chick :

I was thinking of using peat moss when my chicks come. Anyone have an opinion?

Love the avatar!

About the peat moss...
I found some websites
Some said never use peat moss, some said I love to use peat moss as a bedding and others said Only use peat moss marked for poultry use.

So sorry can't help you there