[broodyhen]

I read somewhere that they cannot go onto wood shavings because they will eat them?? My sitting hen Pat is on shavings so what do I do for the best??

Broodyhen

[cathangirl]

Hi Broodyhen,
My chicks have been fine on wood shavings.  Straw is a No - No, as they can tangle their little legs in it and get injured.
If they have chick crumb on offer at all times and a bowl of water, they will be fine.
Good luck.
cathangirl

[broodyhen]

OOh Thanks!!

I'm new to all of this. I'm having my first hen death but my first flock of chicks all in the same week!!! Don't think my nerves can take much more 

[GrannieAnnie]

I lay an old clean sheet (or pillowcase for small numbers) over the shavings for the first few days until they learn what's eatable and what's not!  works great for me.  then I just life off the sheet and throw it away, only costs af ew pence at auctions or charity shops and they have nice clean shavings underneath!

[broodyhen]

hey thanks grannieannie i'll try that!  that is if they hatch :S

[snowflake]

I am cheap I use newspapers just laid down, for the first few weeks then woodshavings.
I get the papers free.

[Chookster]

I am cheap I use newspapers just laid down, for the first few weeks then woodshavings.
I get the papers free.

me too snowflake, unless they have a problem with splaying.  if they do for the first few days i use an old but clean tea towel then bin it after.  most of the time they don't need it. But newspaper is great - if you put a whole paper down you can just roll up the top couple of sheets as soon as it needs changing and voila - all clean again 

[woodside farm]

For newley hatched chicks I use newspaper and a piece on sandpaper for the first couple of days, then woodshavings, if hatched in an incubator, but with a broody I have never had a problem with straw, and I have hatched 100's of chicks. 

Michelle xx

[Chookster]

For newley hatched chicks I use newspaper and a piece on sandpaper for the first couple of days, then woodshavings, if hatched in an incubator, but with a broody I have never had a problem with straw, and I have hatched 100's of chicks. 

Michelle xx

me too i've never had a problem with straw, i put mine on after about a week or two when they're whizzing around fine.  But i heard you should use hay for chickens at all re getting wound round their legs etc

[joyfull]

the straw I use is chopped barley straw  so no long pieces to tangle round their legs 

[Sassy]

I used a tip I picked up on here and it worked really well. Newspaper with kitchen roll on top - this stopped the legs splaying as the newspaper is slippery for them to start with. Easy to clean up.