The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: northfifeduckling on December 05, 2010, 03:09:41 pm

Title: bedding woes
Post by: northfifeduckling on December 05, 2010, 03:09:41 pm
According to advice I bought a bag of shavings for increased insulation. Today I found that the hens are trying to eat them!!! I do feed them by the way...
what do you think??  :chook: :&>
Title: Re: bedding woes
Post by: doganjo on December 05, 2010, 03:41:10 pm
I used paper shreds for my baby ducks before they were moved in with Ma and Pa - they ate those.  I just use straw for all my birds now.
Title: Re: bedding woes
Post by: JulieS on December 05, 2010, 04:07:17 pm
I use wood shavings and mine like to peck about in them.  Never seen them actually eat them though.

Title: Re: bedding woes
Post by: northfifeduckling on December 05, 2010, 04:32:19 pm
Thanks, that put my mind at rest a wee bit. I knew that ducklings can eat them which is fatal but I assumed they were safe with adult birds.  :chook: :&>
Title: Re: bedding woes
Post by: manian on December 05, 2010, 04:45:19 pm
we use dust free shavings and the bids peck at it when it freshly goes down
i don't think they eat it - just hoping i've hid corn in it!!!!!
 :chook:
not doing any harm we are still getting 12 eggs a day from 15 hens  ;D
Title: Re: bedding woes
Post by: moorlander on December 05, 2010, 06:00:05 pm
I use baled chopped straw for all litter and nest boxes etc. Makes magic friable manure after time. OK so I have chickens and not ducks but they never seem to want to eat it.
Title: Re: bedding woes
Post by: doganjo on December 05, 2010, 09:42:17 pm
I use baled chopped straw for all litter and nest boxes etc. Makes magic friable manure after time. OK so I have chickens and not ducks but they never seem to want to eat it.
Me too, and for my ducks as well, although it tends to get wet quicker in the duck house - wonder why ??? ;)
Title: Re: bedding woes
Post by: northfifeduckling on December 12, 2010, 08:49:51 pm
The little girls is definitely eating them (had to watch in horror!) , so there's a lot of woodchips going spare for smoking fish -  or shall I try it in the cat's litter box? :-\ :&> :chook:
Title: Re: bedding woes
Post by: pikilily on December 13, 2010, 08:46:54 am
Just a thought....
could your young hens be pecking at the shavings in leu of grit- do you feed grit? layers pellets have grit in the feed but if you are feeding something else they may be short of diggestive 'fibre' etc. i use shavings , the hens scratch about in it but i have never been concerned that they are eating it!
Emma T