When to put chicke on pine bedding?

[slystr]

My chicks are 6 days old. At what point can I use pine bedding instead of the newspaper & chop towels I am currently using?
Thanks!

 

[helmstead]

You should be able to go ahead and put them on the shavings. We usually just keep them on paper a couple days.

 

[slystr]

Thanks!

 

[bigzio]

slystr, the peeps will enjoy the pine shavings as you prolly already know. I don't skimp on them, which reduces odor and makes the application last longer.

bigzio

 

[slystr]

is it ok for them to peck at the shavings? will they figure out it's not food? They seem to have the scratching thing down, but they seem to eat the pine shavings.

 

[silkiechicken]

They'll learn that they don't taste good and stop eating them. A bit of chick grit would help them pass the shavings but I haven't found that to be necessary with my birds and they are just fine.