When to put new chicks on shavings?

[KiereeAngel86]

I have heard that shavings can be dangerous to new chicks. Does anyone know about what age it is safe to put them on shavings. My little ones are 4 days old today.
thanks

 

[Hens_And_Chicks]

I have always put my newly hatched chicks on shavings - this time I found a dustless pine shaving - they do just fine.

I've never had a problem.

 

[geareduplyn]

Never. Get a bag of Pine Horse Bedding Pellets, and use them instead. I put my chicks on them from day one.

 

[Hens_And_Chicks]

Quote:
Why do you say this? I looked at a pellet bedding but chose not to use it - I was concerned the chicks would peck/eat them.

I need to understand your perspective. My chicks have never had a problem.

 

[sugarbush]

Day one is fine.....

 

[B. Saffles Farms]

Shavings wont hurt them at all (suposedly cedar shavings are a no no). Mine have pine shavings in the brooder with them now.

 

[KiereeAngel86]

Thank you for the replies everyone.

 

[Hens_And_Chicks]

All the information I have ever heard is that chickens should never be bedded on hardwood shavings at all - it's deadly (what I've heard and not willing to take a chance)

Pine shavings or pine pellets (I would use those in my coop for sure)

 

[hinkjc]

We keep the shavings covered with paper towel for about a week. By then they realize what their food is and I don't have problems after that. I had a big hatch one time and tried to skip the paper towel step. A bunch of the babies were eating the shavings and choking on them. That's why I always give them a week on paper towel first, to learn what food is.

 

[Judy]

I used paper towels for 3 or 4 days before I put the pine shavings in. Our TSC put them on pine shavings from day one. When I saw them again at around day 7, many had pine shavings in their poop which was stuck to their butts.