1 week old chicks eating sawdust

[Twiga]

HI BYC, my week old chicks have been on kitchen paper over sawdust as suggested on this site. Now they are getting a bit more feisty and scratchy they are scratching through the paper and eating some of it - plus pecking at the sawdust. Should I just remove the paper now, or will they eat the sawdust and get sick!?

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Since your chicks don't have a mother to show them what is and isn't food, they'll try everything in sight. You need to provide grit so their digestive system doesn't get clogged up. You may also want to switch to large pine shavings instead of fine sawdust.

 

[cafarmgirl]

I agree with using the larger flake shavings, even the medium, just not the fine stuff. They are curious and they will want to scratch and peck and may even eat some. But at their age they know where their food is. I've raised chicks on shavings for years and never had one fill up on them! Scratch, peck, dust bath and make a big mess....yes, but that's about it.

 

[nuttyboo]

I agree with using the larger flake shavings, even the medium, just not the fine stuff.  They are curious and they will want to scratch and peck and may even eat some.  But at their age they know where their food is.  I've raised chicks on shavings for years and never had one fill up on them!  Scratch, peck, dust bath and make a big mess....yes, but that's about it.

X2

 

[RJSorensen]

If you are really using sawdust you are asking for problems. If you are using pine shavings, then all should be fine. If you are using commercial prepared starter for your chicks, you do not need grit, yet. When they start eating treats, or bugs, or a little scratch, they will need some. Use the smaller chick grit for the little guys and when it is gone switch to regular chicken grit, or pigeon grit which is less expensive where I live.

Sawdust can pack a crop and swell inside the bird… grit won't do a thing for this condition.

RJ

 

[whittychick]

Defiantly switch to pine shavings!! They love to scratch and explore! Hope they're ok

 

[birdman55]

I bought pine shavings from tractor supply they have a large bag for about five dollars....don't use cedar.....some use chopped straw

 

[Pollmadoll]

My week old chicks have been eating easichick for the last hour will they be OK?