wood pellets are not working for my chicks

[Tamma]

When I put my five 2 day old chicks in their enclosure on pine shavings they started eating them. And I had one chick with pasty butt I had to fix. So I read on here to use wood pellets so I changed. I really don't like the wood pellets. They are not warm for the chicks and there is not enough stuff they like to scratch around in. Should I try again with the pine shavings? They are 3 1/2 weeks old now. Is there anything else that would be better? Thanks.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Try again with the shavings, they should know what their food is by now. Still, expect them to eat some in their excitement. They would probably appreciate a little pan of dirt to dust bathe in as well
Nikki

 

[Tamma]

Thanks! I will try the shavings again. I feel so bad for them on those hard cold wood pellets. I'll give it a try. By they way, they are little Polish chicks.

 

[jdywntr]

You can mix some of the pellets with the shavings. Thats what I do. The pellets really help with any dampness (poop) but I agree that on their own, the pellets are tough. They make is alot easier to clean especially if you have a water spill or some poop machines like cornish cross chicks or ducklings because it clumps.

 

[Tamma]

Thanks! I replaced all the pellets with shavings before I saw your post. That's a good idea to mix the wood pellets back in some. I'll give it a try after a day or so. The chicks all got loose and were traumatized by my chasing them around trying to get them back in. :0

 

[Chicken Fruit]

tsc sells bedding pellets in the small pet section. theyre much smaller. Nearly the size of feed pellets. They've worked well for me when starting chicks. I usually put paper down on top of them for the first few days while theyre figuring out what not to eat.