week old chicks

[chickenlittlesmomma]

Hi Everyone

We are the proud owners of week old baby chicks. They are doing wonderfully in their pen/brooder. I was curious, at what age can they have fresh grasses?

 

[xtremevermonter]

from VT!

You could give them a handful of grass and enjoy the entertainment. Be sure to give them grit too to aid with their digestion.

 

[chickenlittlesmomma]

SUPER

Thank you so much. I am having a blast reading the other posts and looking at the brooders.

We started out with the rubbermade tub idea...that lasted about 2 hours before we decided that it would be better for them to have ample room so we used an old dog pen and put cardboard around the bottom.

I see a LOT of folks here using shavings. We, and when I say we, I mean DH and I, were told that shavings can be dangerous and to just use newspaper. I have quite the sensitive nose and I can tell I will have to buy stock in newspapers if I continue with them. Shavings are safe?

Boy am I glad I found this website YAHOOOOOOOOO

 

[Cape Cod Chick]

We have week old chicks too, but we've been using pine shavings because that's what they told us to do at the feed store. Are shavings unsafe???

These are our first chicks and I'm watching them as closely as I did my real babies. One of them has a little tuft of feathers on his neck and the area looks red. Earlier I saw another one of the chicks going after that tuft of hair. What should I do?

 

[chickgirl17]

grass is fun for them to play with. i also use Kix ceral and mine like corn (on the cob is more fun for them)
good luck with the chickens

 

[Cape Cod Chick]

I've been putting a clump of clover with roots and dirt still attached into the coop every morning and those chicks just go crazy, scratching and pecking. They ignore the green stuff and have a ball with the dirt and roots. I'm hoping that will keep them from getting bored.

Corn on the cob is a great idea. Can they eat it this young?

 

[patyrdz]

The first week I use paper towels in the brooder, then switch to pine shavings. Don't use newspaper because it is slippery and will cause them to have leg problems(spraddle leg). Good luck and

!!

 

[Cape Cod Chick]

Thank you so much for the advice. We actually did put newspapers under the pine shavings for easy clean up, but I certainly don't want my girls to have leg problems.

This forum is SO helpful to new chicken owners!!!

 

[SimplyForties]

I was thinking about using puppy pads for the first week. Anyone have any trouble (or experience) using those?