When would be a good time....

[Blue_Myst]

to introduce my chicks to the pine shavings? I currently have them on paper towels covering up the shavings below. They are now about five days old. I put them on shavings a little while today, but they would dig through it and pick through the smaller shavings. Is this what they should do, or is this a sign that they'd eat the shavings all day long? I want to keep the number of chicken backsides I have to wash at a minimum! (wishful thinking, I know

)

Thanks!

 

[chookchick]

At five days they should be fine. They know what their food looks like and where to get it, right? They will scratch through and occasionally eat a few shavings, but most they will spit out. That's what chickens like to do....

 

[grullablue]

I've always had mine on pine shavings. Not had a problem here.

Last year's chicks and this year's....

 

[Gonzo the Great]

I've never purchased shavings, but I am collecting some from my wood planer. Do these have to be large curls or some consistent size? Does anyone see any consistency from hatcheries or breeds that confuse their bedding as food? I think I will be getting some next week from a local feed store that buys from Ideal (it's down the street from us in Houston)

 

[gritsar]

They should be fine on shavings now. They are going to pick things up in their beak to test it for edibility. They spit most of it out, no worries.

 

[JenMT]

Mine have been on pine shavings from day one. Good luck to ya!

 

[peony07]

Mine have been on shavings since day one too. No pasty butts and they scratch all day. They are in a wood brooder and they love to scratch and peck at the knots in the wood (almost obsessively!) But no problems.

 

[Blue_Myst]

Thanks for all the replies!

My chicks are now on the shavings and seem to be having quite the party.

Do these have to be large curls or some consistent size?

The shavings I have seem to vary in size, so, I'd say not. Bigger is probably better, but don't take my word for it, I've still just barely made it 'out of the brooder', after all!