When pine shaving and what type?

[froghollowfarm2]

Can anyone tell me when you thinks it's safe to introduce pine shavings for little chicks? And what type of pine chavings do you suggest? I will get my chick delivery next week. I had planned to start them on paper towels, don't know exactly how to keep the brooder dry enough though. I already bought pine shavings from Agway, it's really for horses and the type they say "everyone use for chickens". But I have read in this forum that chicks can die if they eat the pine shavings so I'm a little concerned.
The brooder will be a big cardboard box with extra layer of cardboard in the bottom. I'm palnning to take out and replace the extra layer of cardboard when it gets wet.
Suggestions are appreciated.

 

[LynneP]

I used them from the first day in the brooder, and also put the waterer up and layers of paper towelling under it for absorption. I used the ones at the feed store provided for all livestock. If you smell a bag with too much cedar, use for something else though. I had only one bag out of the last 100 like that!

Like this-

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=7693-A_Brooder

You sound nervous- this *is* going to be fun you know!

 

[BigRay]

For the 1st week or 2 use the pine shavings with a paper towel on top of the shavings. Baby chicks need a good surface (not slick-newspaper) so they dont have leg problems. Also you dont want them ingesting any small shavings until they have grit in their craw.

 

[froghollowfarm2]

Thank you LynneP and BigRay for your suggestions. Yes, I am nervous. I want those little chicks (most of them bantams) to be healthy. I won't be able to check on them every hour. But I'm sure it will be fun.

 

[noitulover]

if you really want to be safe, put in some grit. if they ingest the pin shavings then they will not get impacted!