[northfifeduckling]

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?? 

[doganjo]

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.

[JulieS]

I use wood shavings and mine like to peck about in them.  Never seen them actually eat them though.

[northfifeduckling]

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. 

[manian]

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!!!!!
 
not doing any harm we are still getting 12 eggs a day from 15 hens 

[moorlander]

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.

[doganjo]

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

[northfifeduckling]

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?

[pikilily]

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