Chick bedding?

[FeatherSwift93]

What bedding is best for chicks? I have wood shavings in there now, but they are making a mess.

 

[SilverBirds]

How old are they? Some people use puppy training pads for the first few days and then move onto wood shavings. I use either would or hay.

 

[FeatherSwift93]

How old are they? Some people use puppy training pads for the first few days and then move onto wood shavings. I use either would or hay.

They are 3 weeks old and they just are making a huge mess with wood shavings

 

[RubelliteRose]

What type of brooder are you using? I've used puppy pads, wood pellets and wood shavings. I have come to the conclusion that chicks at that age are going to make a mess no matter what. Everything is new and exciting to them and I think they hold competitions to see who can dig, scratch or dust bathe with the most enthusiasm We brood in extra large dog crates and what has worked best is lining the bottom half with either thin cardboard or sections of window screen. We also place a very large plastic drop cloth under the brooder to at least keep the shavings off the floor.

 

[knobhillfarm]

I use a thin layer of larger pine shavings (not the fine as the chicks seem to want to peck at that more) and it seems to keep the brooder box floor dry and give them plenty of traction. A 2x4 around bottom helps keep it somewhat contained.