which wood chips are ok to use for new chicks, help?

[stargraham]

which wood chips are ok to use with new chicks? all our feed stores have stopped carrying the medium size and just have the fine 'horse' almost dust.....I thought the fine or dustlike were dangerous to little lungs!!! help, thanks Star at Chicken Scratch Farm in Alvord, Texas

 

[cdmadaio]

Most Wood chips are DEFINITELY safe. Make sure the heat lamp is an okay distance away becuase the wood chips insulate and radiate heat so you can start a fire...but that's mostly the heat lamps fault, if you don't use s heat lamp, even better. They'll be good. You can use Sophresh or I use Aspen pine wood chips

 

[Jetblack2004]

We're so glad you joined us!
I'm not entirely sure. I use thicker woodchips because I fear the dust will get into their eyes.

 

[Pork Pie]

Hello and welcome to BYC. In addition to the feedback above, you could type "brooder bedding " in the search function.

These links may be interesting

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/category/hatching-eggs-raising-chickens.22/

Any questions that you may have regarding your chicks will be best posted here - http://www.backyardchickens.com/f/11/raising-baby-chicks

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I personally prefer to avoid the "fine"

 

[Peeperscreepers]

If you have a tractor supply near you they carry flake chips and that's what was recommended to me by my friend that occasionally has chicks but I'm new to this. I haven't had any trouble so far.

 

[chickengirl778]

"The brooder needs something soft and grippy and absorbent on the bottom to keep water messes and poop under control. The easiest (and cleanest) thing I've found is a few layers of newspapers with a piece of rubber shelf liner on top. When the brooder needs cleaning, the newspaper simply gets tossed and the shelf liner can be rinsed or hosed off, allowed to dry, and reused. (Cutting a few pieces helps so you can swap a new clean one in while the old one is drying.)" - Fresh Eggs Daily

I've used this method before. However, I prefer paper towels instead of newspaper because the ink can be toxic. The only problem is that it can get a little tedious to clean, but it's nice for the early days when the chicks are tasting everything. I definitely recommend cutting several pieces.

 

[ronott1]

Welcome!

I use paper towels for the first week and then switch to pine shavings. The fine should work for them.

Can you ask the feed store to get a couple of the flake in for you?

 

[Kiki]

I personally prefer to avoid the "fine"

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[Rose Quartz]

which wood chips are ok to use with new chicks? all our feed stores have stopped carrying the medium size and just have the fine 'horse' almost dust.....I thought the fine or dustlike were dangerous to little lungs!!! help, thanks Star at Chicken Scratch Farm in Alvord, Texas

for the first few days I set the chicks on a solid bedding... pine shavings underneath, but a (I have lots left over from when my kids were little - baby recieving blanket) or J-cloth (aka terri-cloth) or paper towel. so that they don't start eating the bedding first thing. also it makes teaching them to eat easier because you can scatter some feed on the floor and they can see it easier, once they find the feed dish and are eating there, then I take the bedding cover off.