kittyl Posted May 19, 2012 Share Posted May 19, 2012 Spotty's eggs are due to hatch Monday, so I'm busy getting things ready. She's in a lidded plastic cat litter box,(in a small run inside the WIR) its not very big but should be ok for the first few days. She's sitting on a lovely, snuggly nest of Auboise topped with straw. Now I'm wondering if the straw will be a problem for the chicks & if I should take some of it out? I cant remember what I used when we hatched some last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isobel Posted May 19, 2012 Share Posted May 19, 2012 I must say that I did use straw for mine that are now 4 weeks old when I transferred them into the broody pen and I wondered the same thing - I had pine shavings underneath and straw on top, but the mother hen just dibbled about till she had made a nice nest in there and they all seemed absolutely fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted May 19, 2012 Share Posted May 19, 2012 I move mine onto wood shavings 24-48hrs after the last one is all dry a fluffy I think it make a better surface for their little legs it's makes a good first dust bath for them to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 19, 2012 Share Posted May 19, 2012 I use Aubiose or Hemcore. Straw wraps itself around their legs, isn't absorbent and can harbour spores. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirstie Posted May 19, 2012 Share Posted May 19, 2012 I use straw and haven't had any problems but have used hemcore in the past for my big hens nest and think it would be a good chick nest material due to how finely chopped it is. I have tried wood shavings but my chicks eat it and their mummy hasn't any manners and tells them to eat it! Mine are now (I think) two weeks old -and they don't sleep in the nest area - Belle lies down in the house away from the nest and they huddle under her- so she has manners here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kittyl Posted May 19, 2012 Author Share Posted May 19, 2012 Right, I've picked the straw off the front half of the box & topped it with fresh auboise, so now there's a snuggly straw bed & auboise to play on! compromise! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...