baby chicks ravenously eating Aspen wood shavings

[llcardinale]

Hello Everyone,
Does anyone have experience with their chicks ravenously eating wood shavings? I included Full Cheeks Aspen wood shavings on day three and my chicks went nuts scratching through it, and eating it. I felt I had to remove it because I've read about some folks' experience of their chicks gorging on shavings and dying. I thought I'd next try Full Cheeks paper bedding because it has no oils to which the chicks could possibly be attracted. Besides one chick, the other nine appear to be in good condition, but a few of them had a rough start, so I'm worried about making changes that could cause harm. At this point I've decided to wait at least another week before adding bedding--difficult because cleaning up poo several times a day is a bit demanding. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If you haven't already done so, include a small pinch of chick grit on their feed to help them break down any bedding they have eaten.

I usually put some large flake aspen shavings in my brooder and have never had issue with it. Not sure how fine/large your shavings are, but IMO bigger is better to make it harder for them to eat.

 

[Debbie292d]

Wow, that's odd they went after it with such vigor! We use horse bedding pellets, and I'm sure they all try one of the broken ones if they find one, but I've never had any issues. Hopefully, the grit, like @rosemarythyme mentioned, will help the one having issues, and the rest, it couldn't hurt either.

Good luck! Hope they are all going to be okay!

 

[McChooky]

I've only had one group that tried to eat the shavings so I covered them shavings with paper towels a couple days.Around day 4 they quit trying to eat them so I didn't use any more paper towels

 

[llcardinale]

If you haven't already done so, include a small pinch of chick grit on their feed to help them break down any bedding they have eaten.

I usually put some large flake aspen shavings in my brooder and have never had issue with it. Not sure how fine/large your shavings are, but IMO bigger is better to make it harder for them to eat.

Thank you for your response. After removing the Aspen, I did sprinkle chick grit to help with the breakdown of flakes. I will look for a larger flake Aspen than what I have--it has too many smaller flakes. Thanks again.

 

[llcardinale]

I've only had one group that tried to eat the shavings so I covered them shavings with paper towels a couple days.Around day 4 they quit trying to eat them so I didn't use any more paper towels

Thank you for your response. I'll give it a try.

 

[llcardinale]

If you haven't already done so, include a small pinch of chick grit on their feed to help them break down any bedding they have eaten.

I usually put some large flake aspen shavings in my brooder and have never had issue with it. Not sure how fine/large your shavings are, but IMO bigger is better to make it harder for them to eat.

I've looked for some large Aspen flaked bedding, but I haven't been able to find a brand in the USA, only Australia and Switzerland. Do you use a brand that is sold in the USA that you could recommend?

 

[McChooky]

I've looked for some large Aspen flaked bedding, but I haven't been able to find a brand in the USA, only Australia and Switzerland. Do you use a brand that is sold in the USA that you could recommend?

I read about the paper towel trick years ago .It works like a charm.No worry if you can't find the size you're looking for.The big flakes are hard to walk on.I buy mine at Tractor Supply.PIne...

 

[Esc_Quaily]

Hello. Congratulations on your recent hatch. Check out https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/quail-on-deep-litter-why-it-works.832431/
The birds may still eat some of the deep litter but in my experience DL is safer than wood shavings for a number of reasons. The article above goes into detail.
My 7 babies are on DL in the brooder. I haven't observed any chicks feasting on the litter. I've seen some scratching at it, very cute. It's school holidays here so we're' all watching them like hawks. I hope your chick will be alright on the new pads just like the baby siblings.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I've looked for some large Aspen flaked bedding, but I haven't been able to find a brand in the USA, only Australia and Switzerland. Do you use a brand that is sold in the USA that you could recommend?

The one I use is from Petco, "So Phresh Aspen Shavings."