What to put in bottom of brooder pen

[LightenUp]

Yea! I got some chicks! I got them on Wednesday, so two days ago. They were one day old when I picked them up. The woman at the feed store told me to put cedar chips in the bottom of the pen. I've been reading and thinking that that's not the correct thing to do????
I know that I shouldn't have them on just the newspaper, so what do I put down for them?
Thanks for your help!
Robin

 

[jesd]

From what I've heard cedar chips can cause respiratory problems. I have mine on pine shavings.

 

[Lollipop]

NO CEDAR CHIPS! The absolute best bedding I have found is cheap hay. Gives them plenty of excercize, teaches balance, and is easy to get and clean. Can`t beat it.......Pop

 

[LightenUp]

Dang! I'm glad I asked!
So is it ok to put them on the hay or pine immediately?

 

[aidenbaby]

yes. Mine have been on pine the whole time.

 

[LightenUp]

Ok, now I feel really stupid! I'm sorry, I'm embarrassed!
I do actually have pine shavings! Whew!
So...is it ok to have them on the pine shavings right at first, or should I put a papertowel down on top of the pine shavings for the first week?
I read that they would eat the pine shavings and that would cause problems.
Thanks!

 

[BeccaOH]

I started mine on paper towel the first 2 days, then changed to a puppy pee pad. I really like those pads for holding moisture.

Mine are about 4 weeks old now. I have newspaper on the floor of the brooder (rabbit hutch) with pine shavings on top. They keep pushing all the pine toward the one end (where the waterer is, of course) and are shredding the paper. I wish I had something better -- or that the new coop was ready for them.

 

[jesd]

I had some paper towels down the first couple days, but they just sort of pushed them around. I stopped bothering with them after day two.

 

[aidenbaby]

There is no need to be embarassed. You don't know what you don't know. You are willing to learn and that is what matters.

The first day or two you want to use paper towels over the shavings so that they can figure out that the shavings are not food. Once they know where the food is you should be fine.

I use shavings on top of newspaper. I find that it makes for easier cleaning.

 

[Chickiegirls2]

No hay, no pine shavings. Pine shavings slip and your chicks might get splayed legs. No hay becuase when the chicks poop it becomes slippery and they slip and break their legs... paper towels or newspaper!!!!