My chicken is an Addict

Date sort Score sort
Auscal

Auscal

Songster
9 Years
Oct 29, 2010
208
4
101
I may have a problem with my 13 week BR. When I let them out for an hour or so supervised free range in the afternoon - she will gobble down every cigarette butt she can find. I have tried to clean up the (large) yard - but, she is still eating one or two a day. I've tried to get them away from her - that just makes her eat them quicker.I know the obvious solution is cleaning up the area, I have really tried - she just has better eyes than me. I am concerned that she will not be able to break down the filters she has already consumed. Any comments, or suggestions?

Edited to add that I am not the one dropping the butts. That issue has "been resolved" - I'm just concerned about the ones that are lurking in the yard (it's about an acre) & those my chicken has already eaten.
 
Last edited:
You might try to offer her something soaked in olive oil to grease the works up and get it all flowing well. Maybe bread or something soaked nicely. I know that when you make a thing over something, it makes whatever it is seem really attractive. Shame on me, I have cigarette butts back there too. My flock I have now was all raised back there and have known since chick-hood that cigarette butts aren't food. But my first did try to eat them sometimes. I found out the best thing to do when I saw that is to distract them with a goodie or something. Eventually they lost all interest in the things.
 
Ours did that too. We would have to chase them to get them out of their beaks. I don't know if this will work for you but we shouted "NO!" every time we saw one of them pick up a butt, and they would drop it if we yelled loud enough. it seems to have worked, at least while we are looking. Now if they pick one up they immediately drop it. One did eat one once and it must have passed through with no ill effect. Cleaning up as best you can will at least limit the amount. Don't know why they like them, but tobacco is not good for chickens.
 
Guess you should not litter. I don't smoke but people come to my farm & throw them on the ground which I hate because first off we are in a big time drought plus its very inconsiderate. I pick them up all the time. This girl sat on my deck reading her book & threw every butt on the ground. I hate litter bugs sorry. I wouldn't go to your house & litter. I'm blessed to have a farm. I've always considered myself as the care taker of gods land . Its a tough row to hoe but I do the best I can to take care of my little piece of gods country.
 
Quote:
Well that's the thing. I don't litter other people's property but when I'm home I can if I want. And since my chickens know it's not food, well, lets just say I do spend time picking up the butts from time to time and curse myself for being such a lazy litterbug, then go right back to doing the same thing.

We aren't all perfect. I used to get teased about drinking diet cokes and leaving the cans at my desk till I noticed all the water bottles all over the whole office in every state of being full/empty. I pointed that out and never got teased again. We all have faults.
 
Quote:
I think they just don't have taste buds sometimes lol. Mine love to eat styrofoam so I have to be extra careful to keep any of that out of their reach.
 
As long as they don't start lighting them up they'll probably be okay.


roll.png
 
Quote:
You could try the patch on your birds! LOL just kidding!!!!!

Maybe you could get one of them yard sweepers or something to clean them up, we rent one every spring to help get the rocks out of the yard from plowing the driveway they seem to do a good job...
 

Similar threads

T
    • Like
scratch grain addict rooster
Replies
8
Views
609
K0k0shka
K0k0shka
Emrosenagel
    • Like
Hen eats everything but the feed
Replies
7
Views
300
BigBlueHen53
BigBlueHen53
Mouthwash
Chicken over eating
Replies
4
Views
697
Mouthwash
Mouthwash
crystalsc
Waterer Preference
Replies
2
Views
232
crystalsc
crystalsc
R
Can chickens get seeds or corn stuck in their nasal opening?
Replies
3
Views
760
Lacy Duckwing
Lacy Duckwing

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom