Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: broodyhen on July 19, 2009, 12:52

Title: When chicks hatch what do you put them on?
Post by: broodyhen on July 19, 2009, 12:52

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

Title: Re: When chicks hatch what do you put them on?
Post by: cathangirl on July 19, 2009, 13:26

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

Title: Re: When chicks hatch what do you put them on?
Post by: broodyhen on July 19, 2009, 14:32

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  :wacko:

Title: Re: When chicks hatch what do you put them on?
Post by: GrannieAnnie on July 19, 2009, 17:07

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!

Title: Re: When chicks hatch what do you put them on?
Post by: broodyhen on July 19, 2009, 17:18

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

Title: Re: When chicks hatch what do you put them on?
Post by: snowflake on July 19, 2009, 21:19

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

Title: Re: When chicks hatch what do you put them on?
Post by: Chookster on July 19, 2009, 23:09

Quote from: snowflake on July 19, 2009, 21:19

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  8)

Title: Re: When chicks hatch what do you put them on?
Post by: woodside farm on July 19, 2009, 23:29

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

Title: Re: When chicks hatch what do you put them on?
Post by: Chookster on July 19, 2009, 23:45

Quote from: woodside farm on July 19, 2009, 23:29

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

Title: Re: When chicks hatch what do you put them on?
Post by: joyfull on July 20, 2009, 05:43

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

Title: Re: When chicks hatch what do you put them on?
Post by: Sassy on July 20, 2009, 08:12

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.