Straw vs Wood Chips for chicks

[Willowspirit]

We are using paper shavings for our chicks because i am allergic to pine and fir. They are down on a layer of sweet pdz and all chicks are doing well! I am doing much better too!

 

[Fairview01]

Its amazing my chicks have survived the first month over the last several years and I have any that are able to grow to maturity. I put them on straw and give them a pile of sand to take dust baths in the brooder.

So many dos and don'ts. I wonder how a broody hen is able to keep her chicks from getting into all these absolutely bad things.

 

[lutherpug]

Its amazing my chicks have survived the first month over the last several years and I have any that are able to grow to maturity. I put them on straw and give them a pile of sand to take dust baths in the brooder.

So many dos and don'ts. I wonder how a broody hen is able to keep her chicks from getting into all these absolutely bad things.

I’m glad you haven’t had any issues with sand. I have. I had an Australorp eat enough sand that the vet had to cut open her crop to remove it all. The topic of sand is like a political argument on Facebook. There are no winners. I agree with you that chicks can be successfully raised on lots of different substrates and have no issues. IMO pine shavings are probably the best option for new chicks as there is little to no risk of insects in it, the large flakes are too big to eat, and it’s cheap and readily available.

 

[ZooAtHome]

I was planning to use pine shavings, but went with pine pellets on the recommendation of the woman who sold me the chicks. She likes it because of the way it absorbs water spills.

I did spill some water setting up the brooder. The pellets soaked it right up and I was able to easily scoop out the damp stuff. Chicks all stayed dry. So far, they seem to be doing fine on it, but I've only had them for a couple of days.

A single pine shaving made it into the brooder and every single chick tried to eat it, lol, though admittedly none actually succeeded.

 

[lutherpug]

I was planning to use pine shavings, but went with pine pellets on the recommendation of the woman who sold me the chicks. She likes it because of the way it absorbs water spills.

I did spill some water setting up the brooder. The pellets soaked it right up and I was able to easily scoop out the damp stuff. Chicks all stayed dry. So far, they seem to be doing fine on it, but I've only had them for a couple of days.

A single pine shaving made it into the brooder and every single chick tried to eat it, lol, though admittedly none actually succeeded.

I bet pellets work great too!

 

[GC-Raptor]

I use pine shavings from day one. But the first 3 days I put paper towels on top. Newspaper is slippery and can cause splayed leg. . . GC