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Barnyard Buddies:  When to switch to shavings in the brooder  |
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StrawHouseRanch
True Blue Farmgirl
1044 Posts
Paula
Holt
Missouri
USA
1044 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 17 2013 : 10:13:03 AM
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How old do baby chicks need to be before it is safe to switch their flooring over from paper towels to shavings? I'd like to expand their brooder to include some more floor space for them, but I don't want to have to cover all of that space with paper towels. Even my older chickens will peck at shavings, but I don't want the babies to get confused and try to eat them.
Paula
Farmgirl Sister #3090
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery, and Today is a Gift.
"Look deep into Nature, and then you will understand everything better."--Albert Einstein
"A meal of bread, cheese and beer constitutes the perfect food." --Queen Elizabeth I
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Marybeth
True Blue Farmgirl
6418 Posts
Mary Beth
Stanwood
Wa 98292
USA
6418 Posts |
Posted - Apr 17 2013 : 1:26:51 PM
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We used shavings at about 4 weeks. They pecked at first but then left them alone. I wouldn't use paper because they do shred it and could eat it and it is messy as you probably already found out. MB
http://www.smallcityscenes.blogspot.com
www.day4plus.blogspot.com
"Life may not be the party we hoped for...but while we are here we might as well dance!" |
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oldbittyhen
True Blue Farmgirl
1511 Posts
tina
quartz hill
ca
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - Apr 17 2013 : 2:22:15 PM
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use the larger size pine shavings, not the fine ground dusty type, or ground up corn cob type...I change when they start getting pin feathers...
"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad" |
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StrawHouseRanch
True Blue Farmgirl
1044 Posts
Paula
Holt
Missouri
USA
1044 Posts |
Posted - Apr 17 2013 : 2:44:22 PM
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Thank you ladies. I do keep rubber shelf liner over the top of the paper towels, a trick I learned from Fresh Eggs Daily, to prevent spraddle leg. It also prevents shredded paper towels!!
They are only a week and a half old, so maybe it is too soon to change their flooring. They are just growing like weeds though.
Paula
Farmgirl Sister #3090
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery, and Today is a Gift.
"Look deep into Nature, and then you will understand everything better."--Albert Einstein
"A meal of bread, cheese and beer constitutes the perfect food." --Queen Elizabeth I
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AlyssaMarie
True Blue Farmgirl
287 Posts
AlyssaMarie
Palouse
Washington
USA
287 Posts |
Posted - Apr 17 2013 : 5:03:34 PM
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Personally I've never had an issue changing from paper towels to the larger shavings after about a week old. I've been raising mail order chicks for about 5 years.
AlyssaMarie @ Link'd Hearts Ranch
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msdoolittle
True Blue Farmgirl
1143 Posts
Amanda
East Texas
USA
1143 Posts |
Posted - Apr 18 2013 : 10:36:21 AM
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I'll be honest; I start out with shavings! I hatch my own, and they stay in the brooder/hatcher for a day, then straight to a large brooder with kiln dried, medium sized pine shavings. I have not had an issue with impacted crops, and I have been raising babies for almost 5 years. :0)
FarmGirl #1390
www.mylittlecountry.wordpress.com |
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StrawHouseRanch
True Blue Farmgirl
1044 Posts
Paula
Holt
Missouri
USA
1044 Posts |
Posted - Apr 19 2013 : 1:56:20 PM
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Alyssa Marie and Amanda, Thank you for your input! I did get some shavings today and will expand the space for my growing girls this weekend and keep my fingers crossed!
Paula
Farmgirl Sister #3090
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery, and Today is a Gift.
"Look deep into Nature, and then you will understand everything better."--Albert Einstein
"A meal of bread, cheese and beer constitutes the perfect food." --Queen Elizabeth I
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StrawHouseRanch
True Blue Farmgirl
1044 Posts
Paula
Holt
Missouri
USA
1044 Posts |
Posted - Apr 19 2013 : 10:40:18 PM
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Okay, I would strongly recommend that you slowly introduce the shavings. My girls sort of panicked when I put them back in the brooder after their daily clean-up in a sea of scary shavings. They took refuge on top of the electric hen and cried plaintively non-stop about that scarey, weird stuff on the ground until I retrieved their familiar rubber drawer liner and laid it under the electric hen. They all found their way back under the eco glow and are resting peacefully. They even ventured out for some water and food, so I'm sure they will get some nerve to explore tomorrow. It was just too much all at once for them. I'll know better next time!
Paula
Farmgirl Sister #3090
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery, and Today is a Gift.
"Look deep into Nature, and then you will understand everything better."--Albert Einstein
"A meal of bread, cheese and beer constitutes the perfect food." --Queen Elizabeth I
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firefly0005
Farmgirl in Training
10 Posts
Danielle
Oregon City
Oregon
USA
10 Posts |
Posted - Apr 19 2013 : 11:58:37 PM
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Like Amanda I use shavings right from the start also. I use pine and have never had any issues.
Good luck.
Once a country girl, always a country girl. |
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StrawHouseRanch
True Blue Farmgirl
1044 Posts
Paula
Holt
Missouri
USA
1044 Posts |
Posted - Apr 20 2013 : 09:50:18 AM
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Everyone is doing great this morning! They seem to fit right in to their larger space and are scratching around in the new shavings, something they couldn't do with the rubber shelf liner.
Paula
Farmgirl Sister #3090
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery, and Today is a Gift.
"Look deep into Nature, and then you will understand everything better."--Albert Einstein
"A meal of bread, cheese and beer constitutes the perfect food." --Queen Elizabeth I
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msdoolittle
True Blue Farmgirl
1143 Posts
Amanda
East Texas
USA
1143 Posts |
Posted - Apr 21 2013 : 10:04:30 AM
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Yes, if they are used to one thing, it freaks them out to go quickly to another. What I always really enjoy, though, is when they go from the brooders to 'real' ground. They almost all immediately start digging in the dirt and bathing. :0)
FarmGirl #1390
www.mylittlecountry.wordpress.com |
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StrawHouseRanch
True Blue Farmgirl
1044 Posts
Paula
Holt
Missouri
USA
1044 Posts |
Posted - Apr 23 2013 : 10:20:18 AM
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I spied one of the girls taking a dust bath in the shavings yesterday. I'd say that is a sign that they are used to them!
Paula
Farmgirl Sister #3090
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery, and Today is a Gift.
"Look deep into Nature, and then you will understand everything better."--Albert Einstein
"A meal of bread, cheese and beer constitutes the perfect food." --Queen Elizabeth I
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Barnyard Buddies: When to switch to shavings in the brooder |
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When to switch to shavings in the brooder
