What type of bedding for week old chicks?

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Countryside : One Thread

We have 25 week old chicks and have been keeping them under a heat lamp on a bedding of newspapers. They are starting to poop ALOT and the newspaper seemed inefficient so I tried cedar shavings. I grew concerned because they started eating the cedar shavings and I didn't know if this was OK or not. I have read other threads on this site that recommend against using cedar shavings. I then tried straw and they seemed to eat that too. Is it OK for them to eat either of these? HELP!

-- Lisa (tepeeclan@nidlink.com), March 27, 2001

Answers

Newspapers are not ideal(although I have used them before) because they are too slick for those little legs. We use pine shavings. (They are sold inexpensively in large bags at the feed store.) I have also heard not to use cedar, but I don't know if it would hurt. Straw is okay as long as they can't get it in the light. Chicks will naturally scratch at it and eat some. Put their feed and water up on a block or something so that it does not get filled up with litter, and be sure there is no way they can knock the light down. Chicks are fairly forgiving, so relax and enjoy!

-- mary, texas (marylgarcia@aol.com), March 27, 2001.

We've been using pine shavings on our 3-week-old chicks since they were a couple of days old. They eat some, but it hasn't hurt them apparently. Just be sure to give them some grit so they can digest whatever they eat. I've also heard not to put them in cedar shavings, but I'm not sure of the reason why. I line the boxes with newspaper, then put the pine shavings down on top of that. I still have to change the bedding at least twice a week, but they really don't smell bad.

-- Tracey (trjlanier@cs.com), March 27, 2001.

Lisa, my husband made me a very nice brooder. I just put about 10 layers of newspaper down, so that at least twice a day I can just roll up the top layer, usually doing this as I add food and water. About the time I lower the temp in the brooder I just use no bedding at all, they have a really nice wire mesh floor, which lets all the droppings fall out underneath. This keeps them clean plus lets clean air circulate. I of course am in the South, which means we have to worry about the brooder getting to hot, not to cold. I do for several weeks have to put newspaper down to retain the heat during the evenings. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), March 27, 2001.

I've used cedar the last couple of years .They have been ok .Mine are in the living room so I need to keep the smell down .

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), March 27, 2001.

Cedar bedding can cause diseases in chicks and rabbits.

Newspapers alone are not good because they can slip and it can cause terrible leg problems that are almost impossible to fix.

We use pine shavings (that are untreated) and have had good results from that. We put them about 2 inches thick and then clean them out about every 2 or 3 days.

We got a HUGE bag of pine shavings at the co-op for I think about $6.50

-- Suzy in Bama (slgt@yahoo.com), March 27, 2001.



We use hay. It's ok for them to eat the tops and seeds. Mary

-- Mary Fraley (kmfraley@orwell.net), March 27, 2001.

I do a mix of Two bales of hay, chopped, through hammer mill 1/2 inch and smaller pieces. Pine untreated saw-dust 100 pounds and 1/2 bale of pine planner chips.

This fluff goes on the earth floor of brooder house about 3 inches deep. Same mix is used as insulation on the top of the "Hover".

I throw scratch on fluff and let the chooks work for pay also. This is stirred daily. Added to as needed. After one or two batches of peeps, 100 or 200 per batch, It goes on the compost heap.

After a year in the compost heap some bedding goes back through the hammer mill for garden or greenhouse seedlings and life cycle goes on.

Daughter in law used cedar chips, lost peeps and had really bad eye problems with her chooks. News papers is for quick clean up with smaller broods. It should be really crinkled up to give peeps some leg/foot traction. I have taken corrugated cartons and split the layers for peeps the first week. They peel well after being out in the rain. JR

-- JR (jr3star@earthlink.net), March 28, 2001.


We use pine shavings with no problems. After reading the posts here, I think I will try the newspaper underneath the pine shavings this year. Seems like easier changing of the bedding.

-- JoAnn (jonehls@excite.com), March 28, 2001.

Thanks everyone for your helpful answers. I have ditched the cedar shavings and switched to a layer of newspaper with pine shavings on top. They still eat it a little but they seem much more comfortable. Thanks!

-- Lisa (tepeeclan@nidlink.com), March 28, 2001.

I don't like critters living in their droppings. It can cause health problems. I don't use bedding. I've attached 1/2 inch hardware cloth about 6 inches up from the bottom of their 4 foot cage. The droppings fall thru. I cut empty feed bags open so they lay flat on the floor to collect the droppings.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), March 29, 2001.


We have elevin Black Australorpe chicks in a big old box with peat moss about an inch thick in the bottom. We bought a 7 sq ft bag for about $6 at the local farm store.

Do you have to put scratch in with chicks?? (grit) I thought that they didn't need it till later.

-- Marty (Mrs.Puck@Excite.com), March 29, 2001.


I've never put grit in with chicks. Haven't lost any chicks.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), March 30, 2001.

We get 700 at a time and always have used pine shavings, not sawdust (plugs up their little intestines) and not hardwood. We don't use raised wire floor because it's too hard on their legs and feet. When they're feathered out we use shavings or straw or hay, by then they're less likely to choke. Maybe this summer we'll try some on pasture.

-- Wes Reinbold (wr48601@aol.com), March 31, 2001.

How about sawdust, will that work ok for bedding? I know cedar smoke can be fatal to humans, I wouldn't want to use cedar shavings for anything. They use it around plants in flower beds for asthetic reasons, and to prevent evaporation of moisture, but it is not healthy to the plant!! Cannot see how it could be good for chicks!

-- tang (tang@mtaonline.net), April 02, 2001.

I've used straw in the past but this year have been using pine shavings that I get by the bale. I've noticed that my chicks are pecking it all the time, but so far after 3 weeks I've only lost 1 chick out of 60. I can get free cedar shavings at the local mill in town and was going to try that but now I'm not sure. Patty you say you haven't had any problems, but one did. I know I've read somewhere not to use cedar, but for what reason? Is this another I heard it from so and so and they said you couldn't do that? I've never heard that cedar smoke was fatal!...I burn cedar all the time and if it was I would be dead long ago. I'm sure any smoke would be fatal if you breathed it in long enough. Just ask any smoker!...

-- Kent in WA (kent@premier1.net), April 03, 2001.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ