Chicksaplenty Posted April 15, 2015 Share Posted April 15, 2015 Hi All, I am going to use dust free pine wood shavings for my chicks that are a week old. Any reasons not to? Chicks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 I think pine shavings should be fine. I've just googled it and lots of people seem to use them. Welcome and good luck with your chicks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicksaplenty Posted April 16, 2015 Author Share Posted April 16, 2015 Thank you Chickabee. I had heard differing views and just wanted to be sure. I shall be putting them onto bedding at the weekend when they are a week old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 Hi Just curious .....what are they on now?? I have chicks currently, which will be a week old on sun They are in the classic with their mum and the bedding I've used is "snowflake" I use it in the nest box of my cube. It's not at all dusty and a bit heavier than shavings. It also lays nice and flat. The chicks are also allowed in the run (with their mum) I worried shavings would clog up their water drinker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicksaplenty Posted April 17, 2015 Author Share Posted April 17, 2015 Hi mimi5 at the moment they are on old towels which give them quite a good grip for their little legs. I'm not new to hatching but didn't do any last year or the year before due to health reasons and therefore my confidence needs to be regained! I have not hatched Owlbeards in an incy before only with a broody which was no trouble at all. My Owlbeard chicks, six of them, are a week old on Saturday (with another 14 eggs set last Monday!) and I thought it was ok now to put them on the pine shavings, and yes you're right, they do clog up the little drinker which needs changing several times a day although I could stand it on something to raise it up a bit. When I first read 'snowflake' in a post I thought 'crikey they breed hardy chicks!' I'd never heard of it before. What chicks do you have? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 Wow owlbeards They are a rare breed aren't they? Well done with your hatch I have pekins These chicks are my cokerel and hens eggs The mum's were my last hatch 3 years ago I know what you mean about confidence I did lots of reading to try and remind myself. They grow so fast don't they!I did the whole debate with myself about medicated verus non medicated chick crumb, again! Decided to do medicated Sorry should have explained about the snowflake It's mostly used as a horse bedding, kind of finely chop wood. I use it in my nest box & have a big bale in the garage........lasting me ages! Errr do you have any pics of your owlbeards? Last time I hatched someone else also had some owl beard hatchlings........sorry I can't remember who But sadly they didn't make it to adulthood I do remember one was called Wilma though! Best wishes for your next batch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheshire Hen Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 Sounds like you're both doing a great job with your chicks! I do paper towels for the first few days, and then switch to pine shavings. I've read it's good to hold out with pine shavings just for a few days so they don't confuse food with shavings. Once they have that sorted, it's fine. Yes, the shavings can be messy, but once the chicks get a bit bigger you can put the water up on a brick or something to give it a bit of height and keep it (a little) cleaner. Best of luck to you both! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheshire Hen Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 Oh, and I do medicated chick feed too, unless the chicks were vaccinated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 Don't do what I did. I hung the water as the chicks were in a large crate. This was fine until they decided to try to fly I couldn't work out at first why the paper towels and bedding were so wet and one of the chicks was soaked. They're in the garden now in a classic. Doing really well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicksaplenty Posted April 17, 2015 Author Share Posted April 17, 2015 Wow owlbeards They are a rare breed aren't they? Well done with your hatch Errr do you have any pics of your owlbeards? Last time I hatched someone else also had some owl beard hatchlings........sorry I can't remember who But sadly they didn't make it to adulthood I do remember one was called Wilma though! Best wishes for your next batch Hope to have a picture up as soon as I work out how It was jeshen that had Wilma and she just happens to be my neighbour! We got our eggs/chicks from Chickenstreet who lives just up the road from us and is doing a lot of work to bring the Owlbeard bantams back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 It was jeshen that had Wilma and she just happens to be my neighbour! We got our eggs/chicks from Chickenstreet who lives just up the road from us and is doing a lot of work to bring the Owlbeard bantams back. Ah yes I remember it was jeshen She has Mr Darcy and his girls...doesn't she??? Imagine having a chickeny person as a neighbour...........I can dream Please say "hi" from mimi5 next time you see jeshen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicksaplenty Posted April 18, 2015 Author Share Posted April 18, 2015 I will Mimi and yes she has Mr D'Arcy and his girls. It is very handy living so close as we can each look after the others chickens when we go away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeshen Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 Can I butt in on this conversation and say 'Hi' to Mimi! Glad you're going down the chick route again! Such a fab thing to do and good luck with it all! Unfortunately I've not got room for any more but am v happy with my gorgeous Mr Darcy and his 9 wives - and I get to see my neighbour's chicks hatching and growing up so it's the next best thing! Yes, we're exceedingly lucky to have each other as neighbours and I'm so grateful for all the times Chicks chicken-sits for my lot, especially at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 Hi jeshen I wish I had you 2 for my neighbours, one either side Seriously how cool would that be A girl can dream I'm glad your pekin gang are good If you would like to see my fluffies, take a look in hatching & raising chicks, there's pics I am really enjoying hatching again Just hope I get some girls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted April 29, 2015 Share Posted April 29, 2015 EasiChick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 29, 2015 Share Posted April 29, 2015 I just use Aubiose, same as for the big girls. don't forget, though to use some of that non-slip webbing for the first few days, until their legs are strong enough not to splay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
