Week olds...dust baths, heat and bedding

[chickencoop57]

My chicks don't get dirt baths until they're old enough to be in the run with the others. I don't see the need for baby chicks to have dirt baths and mine are always healthy. And the same with the grit. That's just my 2 cents on the subject!

 

[ComfortChick]

My babies will be a week old tomorrow. I cannot belive how much they've grown already and their little tail feathers are coming in!
I've noticed a couple are bathing in their food that has spilled onto the puppy pads. Do I need to provide a dust bath? What do I actually use for this and do I leave it in for a certain period of time?
Also, I know I am supposed to reduce the heat but because I am using a heat plate...do I just raise it a bit? Or should I adjust the room temperature instead and knock that down a couple of degrees? (I raised my house temp upon receiving the babies.)
Lastly, they have had grit twice now. How often should I give it at this age? And if I now let them use pine bedding, will it still causes them harm to eat it since they have chick grit? If so, what do I do? They need real bedding eventually and these pads are covered in poo in no time at all.

Thank you for your help. Really, I dont know what I would do without this forum!

My babies will be a week old tomorrow. I cannot belive how much they've grown already and their little tail feathers are coming in!
I've noticed a couple are bathing in their food that has spilled onto the puppy pads. Do I need to provide a dust bath? What do I actually use for this and do I leave it in for a certain period of time?
Also, I know I am supposed to reduce the heat but because I am using a heat plate...do I just raise it a bit? Or should I adjust the room temperature instead and knock that down a couple of degrees? (I raised my house temp upon receiving the babies.)
Lastly, they have had grit twice now. How often should I give it at this age? And if I now let them use pine bedding, will it still causes them harm to eat it since they have chick grit? If so, what do I do? They need real bedding eventually and these pads are covered in poo in no time at all.

Thank you for your help. Really, I dont know what I would do without this forum!

 

[ComfortChick]

My babies will be a week old tomorrow. I cannot belive how much they've grown already and their little tail feathers are coming in!
I've noticed a couple are bathing in their food that has spilled onto the puppy pads. Do I need to provide a dust bath? What do I actually use for this and do I leave it in for a certain period of time?
Also, I know I am supposed to reduce the heat but because I am using a heat plate...do I just raise it a bit? Or should I adjust the room temperature instead and knock that down a couple of degrees? (I raised my house temp upon receiving the babies.)
Lastly, they have had grit twice now. How often should I give it at this age? And if I now let them use pine bedding, will it still causes them harm to eat it since they have chick grit? If so, what do I do? They need real bedding eventually and these pads are covered in poo in no time at all.

Thank you for your help. Really, I dont know what I would do without this forum!

Newbie here. Hope I'm posting this in the right place! I'd be lost without this forum I've peeked in on through the years!

I'm right there with you Ccort..1 week old tomorrow and questions about dust baths! We have thought about getting organic garden soil...no additives but organic dirt and peat moss. Plus sand, but we only have playground-type sand. Another thought has been herbs. I'd appreciate anyone's feedback

 

[rosemarythyme]

questions about dust baths! We have thought about getting organic garden soil...no additives but organic dirt and peat moss. Plus sand, but we only have playground-type sand. Another thought has been herbs.

Don't bother with the herbs unless you're making a roasted chicken.

The soil you describe should be fine. I don't use sand at all so not sure what's the "best" type of sand for dust bathing purposes.