What bedding to use for newborn chicks?

[SunnysideupstateNY]

First cutting alfalfa worked fine with my girls.

 

[pascopol]

I only use newspaper sheets changed every day for first 2-3 weeks. Clean and sanitary, then they go on wire for the rest of brooding period.

Do not freak out giving me "spraddled" legs mantra cause I use newspaper.

There is very simple treatment giving newspaper sheets traction of paper towels, my birds never got spraddle leggs.

In my past experience wood shaving were messy, expensive, and caused few deaths of some precious and expensive chicks by choking.

No more shavings for me.

 

[phasian]

I use either pine shavings or alternately untreated wood pellets. The pellets are less dusty, but don't smell nearly as nice. I have never covered my shavings and have yet to have any of the thousands of chicks I have raised eat them. They do peck at them, but I have never seen them ingest them.

Occasionally, I have used cedar. Used to hear about how bad they were and then spoke with an octogenarian, third generation chicken keeper, who is a well known poultry judge. They told me they had used cedar their whole lives with no problems. Sometimes I think someone just formulates a theoretical idea and then writes it down in a guide somewhere and next thing you know, people are quoting it like it's the gospel without having the benefit of trying it out....

Another couple tips I find nifty for brooding-- using ceramic heat emitters so they can have a natural night time; and when they are 1.5-2 weeks old, putting a grassy divot in their brooder (I use those large sheep stock tanks- 4'x2'x4'). The ceramic heat emitters function like a heat bulb, and while pricey, are guaranteed by their manufacturer for five years. Mine have lasted well beyond this and have saved me a lot of money in the long run as I find those red heat bulbs barely make it through a season. They are available wherever reptile supplies are sold. The grassy divot give the chicks a natural playground; greens to nibble and dirt to scratch around in. I find it keeps the wee ones entertained and helps with their health to get introduced to the soil they will be living on when older.

 

[BooBear]

I use pine wood shavings.
I have noticed that chicks will eat the tiny particales of the wood shavings. So I decided to go ahead and use the paper towels over the wood shavings for the first few days so that they chicks are more into eating their food and getting the nutrients they really need.

I never had a chick choke on the shavings and the ones that ate the tiny particals were fine. I think during the critical period after hatch were they learn to eat and drink they really need to fill their crops and tummies with real food and not filler.

Paper towels are easier to clean up as you just roll them up, toss, and roll on the fresh paper towels.

 

[CorgiHouse]

Quote:
What's the problem with using straw?

 

[crazyhen]

Straw can harbor some nasty molds and bring bugs into your coop. I use puppy pee pads until they are a few weeks old, they are easily removed and hold all the liquid as well as the poo they put out. I get the cheap ones at kmart or walmart. After two weeks they know what to eat and will leave the wood chips mostly alone. gloria Jean

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:
Wow, sorry if my mantra freaked you out!
Its mentioned because of the risk, not the certainty. Why take risks with your chicks just starting out?

But if it works for you and you have a solution for slick paper, please tell us what that is. I've used it, too, and never really saw a problem.
I have noticed their lack of "traction" on newsprint, however.

Frankly, there are many things you can use. Clean dirt from outside was recommended years ago - agricultural off casts, like shavings, comes from the factory poultry business.
It's clear many things will work.

SO Im curious - what is your "trick" for making newsprint non-slick?

 

[Momto3boys]

I too only use pine shavings, never cedar! I've never covered the shavings either! When I get my new brood in April, it will be my fifth time raising chicks!

 

[chickenlickin8]

I use small size pine shavings for all of my chicks that I have hatched myself or ordered from a hatchery. Never had a problem!

 

[SJchicks]

I used paper towels at first. When they got bigger, I switched to pine shavings. Worked well!