Whether or Not to Use Mini Flake Pine Shavings

[Lindyk]

Thanks for the suggestions. I purchased the large pine shavings today, and all 13 seem to be happy. I also borrowed a book on raising chickens which I intend to read tonight.
I have 7 different breeds in all I think, so I'm also trying to determine some of the breeds by the pictures. I didn't realize there is a lot to learn just so they survive the first few weeks. About how deep are you putting the shavings? I'm afraid the kitchen liners on under the pine shavings would just be to messy. Do you put the liners on top of the newspapers?
The cardboard box I have them in in large, and I would have to buy a lot of liners. May look at the Dollar Tree tomorrow. I cut a double layer of paper towels which I place under their water containers (I have 2). Oh, I bought some fine heavier wire which I cut and put on top. They are already flying across part of the box, and also trying to fly up at times.
So entertaining, and a lot of work!

 

[TRMFAM]

LindyK, I used paper towels with the shelf liner on top for the first 4 days...then I removed the towels and shelf liner altogether and went with just pine flakes...there is nothing underneath the shavings, well, except the concrete slab.

I put the shavings 3-4" thick...depending on your sub-floor I have read you can place it much thinner, down to 1" thick if you have a wood sub-floor but, in my case, the concrete robs them of heat and that is why the recommendation is to have the flakes thicker.

I have 2 types of waterers, the standard bottle / tray resting on a 2 X 6 and 2 gallon buckets with nipples hanging from chains...there is actually much less water on the floor around the standard waterer. The area under the buckets is much more moist and I change it daily and refresh all the shavings every 3 days. My chicks are 10 days old and have a 4' X 4' brooder. I just tried an experiment today and put a 10" plastic tray like would go under a flower pot under the buckets and then covered with flakes...hoping I can just pick up the trays and dump them quicker. It is probably not necessary but daily we have a poop patrol and pick up all the flakes we see with poop on them.

 

[Lindyk]

The larger pine flakes over newspapers are working great. I still have them in a large box in my studio, and change their water, papers, etc. every 12 hours. The are becoming so tame, and I love to watch their personalities develop. I bought the kind of galvanized steel waterer that hooks up to a hose. That way I an clean it out easier, or at least I think I will be able to. We need to finish their beautiful coop, but the weather here keeps raining......

 

[TRMFAM]

Be sure NOT to add Apple Cider Vinegar to the galvanized steel container...

I have heard several on here refer to it as "Chick TV" how much fun it is just to sit and watch them...good stuff!

 

[nordicacres]

Be sure NOT to add Apple Cider Vinegar to the galvanized steel container...

I have heard several on here refer to it as "Chick TV" how much fun it is just to sit and watch them...good stuff!

Does it corrode the metal? Or leach metals into the water? I have been adding ACV to my steel waterers. Never thought about it!

 

[MrsBachbach]

Does it corrode the metal? Or leach metals into the water? I have been adding ACV to my steel waterers. Never thought about it!

Maybe both. ACV is acidic. Metal and acid don't mix. Might just be because it's galvanized. I know when preparing foods for canning, not to use anything but glass or stainless when using vinegar.

 

[TRMFAM]

The vinegar reacts to the zinc in the galvanized metal...eating it away and it will rust your container. Additionally, and you might get some argument here from folks, there is a potential for zinc poisoning in the chickens. You can search on here and several folks believe that is what killed their chickens.

I know in humans Iron poisoning (rusty metal) is a possibility but it takes quite a bit in our systems to affect us although it is difficult to remove it from your body and can build up over time. I don't know if this would affect chickens as well.

 

[Lindyk]

My 13 (Baker's doz) are 3 1/2 weeks now. My husband just finished a beautiful 4 x 4 x 8 coop, and I plan on putting them in there tomorrow afternoon if it doesn't rain again. We have had soooo much rain in Texas this year. They will have a light also in there. I plan on leaving them in their coop for 2 weeks so they can get used to it.

 

[Lindyk]

Thanks for the information!

 

[Lindyk]

Good idea about the water containers. Thanks!