Aargh... Pullets eating plastic

[TooCheep]

I have a couple of pullets that have started eating at the plastic sheeting that I'm using to protect their run from the winter elements. They get to free range during the day and I've caught them biting and eating the plastic a couple of times now. I've chased them away, but I can't be out there continuously to stop the behavior.

I've been raising chickens for about 7 years now and these are the first ones I've seen with this behavior. Any suggestions for how to stop this? Is there something I could spray on the plastic that tastes bad but won't harm them? Any other solutions? Thanks.

 

[No Coop No Problem]

I wonder how much plastic will go into their eggs from this

 

[TooCheep]

It can't be good for them either and the plastic sheeting is intended to protect them from winter winds/rains, so I want to find a solution ASAP.

 

[Evadig]

Ugh, chickens! Why plastic is a delicacy I’ll never know.

I’ve put paving stones or logs against something I don’t want them to eat, or fence it off. I always keep a couple rolls of netting and stakes laying around for that purpose.

 

[DemeterAD9]

If it is just the one spot they are pecking at I would throw a sheet of plywood or something against it so they can’t get to it.

I have similar issues but with the peeling paint on a shed. They love to peck at the paint and now the shed is bare is some spots. They also seem to be eating the bits of plastic left from the darn squirrels chewing on their feed bins. Chickens are smart but that doesn’t mean they know what’s good/bad for them.

 

[TooCheep]

Ugh, chickens! Why plastic is a delicacy I’ll never know.

I’ve put paving stones or logs against something I don’t want them to eat, or fence it off. I always keep a couple rolls of netting and stakes laying around for that purpose.

I have too much plastic to protect to make paving stones practical. Fencing is a possibility. I have some plastic fencing that they might like instead.
I do have chicken wire available, so that could work. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[TooCheep]

If it is just the one spot they are pecking at I would throw a sheet of plywood or something against it so they can’t get to it.

No, there are multiple spots. I just took one picture for illustration. I'd prefer not to use something solid like plywood or logs/paving stones as mentioned above as that would block off too much light which is already at a premium in winter. Thanks for the thought.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I have similar issues but with the peeling paint on a shed. They love to peck at the paint and now the shed is bare is some spots.

I have the same issue with paint, they were eating the paint off their coop. Ironically my fix was putting plastic netting over the bottom few feet, which TooCheap's flock would probably eat instead.