Gloss-Hen Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 Ok basically my chicks are a week old saturday. I use kichen roll as their bedding but they are scraching it up and i wanted t know if they could have shavings. They are non-toxic shavings and my other chickens use it. thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 mine go onto shavings at about 2 days old with a broody and wood chip in the run and a week old if they are hand reared then I change to Bliss at about 10 weeks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isabel Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 SJP, can you start them on aubiose with a broody? Mine is nesting on that - do I need to change it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 SJP, can you start them on aubiose with a broody? Mine is nesting on that - do I need to change it? I've no experiance with aubiose but I don't see why not as I think it's a straw like bedding the same as bliss which I think makes a better nest for the eggs than shavings. but I prefer shavings for my chicks as they make a flatter softer surface thats just my opinion others will have other ideas. I don't change the nesting material until the chicks have hatched and about 24 - 48 hrs old Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirstie Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 Oh no I haven't even thought I'd need to change nesting material! My broody is sitting on a nest of straw, do I need to change this before they hatch, after they hatch? Is it not suitable? If not why not and what should I be using? Sorry to but in on this post but I hadn't even thought about nesting material! Kirstie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 If you are using a broody hen then it doesnt really matter about the bedding as she will teach them to eat and know that the bedding isnt food. As long as the chicks can easily get about on the bedding its fine - if you have a massive deep bed of traditional long stalk straw then maybe compact it down a bit or remove some but otherwise dont worry Chicks hatched in an incubator need to learn that they should only eat chick crumb so bedding them on J cloths/kitchen roll/old tea towels etc... for the first few days is a good idea Gloss Hen - shavings are absolutely fine. Wooden pellet cat litter also makes a good bedding if the brooder is indoors as chicks cant chuck that out quite as easily Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloss-Hen Posted May 4, 2012 Author Share Posted May 4, 2012 Thank you for your replies. Im not using a broody. I put them on shavings last night they loved it but its to big for them to eat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
