Whats the best thing to keep chicks on in the brooder?

[Bantam Username]

I used to keep my previous hens on sand inside the coop but they had grass in their run. I kept them on bird sand from when I first got them but they were fully fledged chicks when I got them, so am unsure what the best surface is for newly hatched chicks.
My brooder has a mesh bottom with a droppings tray underneath, but as the sides are perspex, I can easily cover the mesh with something if needs be.

 

[MuckyPuppy]

I keep my newly hatched chicks on pine chips/shavings covered by paper towels for the first two weeks and then just on the chips/shavings (no paper towels).

Edited: Make sure they don't eat the paper towels.

 

[P-Funk]

Quote:
Why the paper towells???

 

[Bantam Username]

Quote:
Why the paper towells???

Yes, I was wondering that! Lol. Also, why do brooder cages have mesh bottoms if chicks shouldn't be on them?

 

[kidcody]

so they don't mistakenly eat the shavings

 

[Bantam Username]

But if they'll eat the paper towel which makes them sick, surely that defeats the point doesn't it?

 

[Lurkeygirl2011]

agree, pine shavings covered with paper towels. I only use the paper towels for the first three days though, I haven't had a problem with them eating shavings after that.

 

[kidcody]

no, I've NEVER seen the eat the paper towel, what you do is just lay it flat over the shavings and change it twice a day, pretty easy, you don't want the shavings to get stuck in the chicks throat, when there so little they will try to eat anything

 

[MuckyPuppy]

Yep, you use the paper towel to prevent them eating the shavings. I put in the disclaimer because I read about a person who has said that one of their chicks ate the paper towel.

Edited: I think that a chick eating the paper towel would be rare. They are more likely to eat the shaving.

Edited - Edited: Ha here it is a couple of post lower than this one (at this time) and below my answer (5th post).
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=552667