Chicken eating bedding?!

[Random Fluffy Chicken]

I caught a hen eating some bedding. Should I be concerned? Or is that normal behavior? I believe it’s made out of pine shavings, I’ve never seen her eat it so just curious.

 

[chickentrains]

It can impact her crop. My chickens pick at the shavings and then spit it out. Is she actually eating it, or just pecking around?

Can you try a different type of bedding?

 

[Random Fluffy Chicken]

It can impact her crop. My chickens pick at the shavings and then spit it out. Is she actually eating it, or just pecking around?

Can you try a different type of bedding?

We have used this bedding for years and this is the first time i saw her eat it. I actually saw her swallow some. We can certainly buy another type of bedding but I don’t know which one. I gave her some acv yesterday so hopefully that helps.

 

[chickentrains]

We have used this bedding for years and this is the first time i saw her eat it. I actually saw her swallow some. We can certainly buy another type of bedding but I don’t know which one. I gave her some acv yesterday so hopefully that helps.

I use straw in the coop during the winter, there are long strands, not small chips like the shavings. maybe try that?

 

[Random Fluffy Chicken]

I use straw in the coop during the winter, there are long strands, not small chips like the shavings. maybe try that?

Thanks for the suggestion. I’ll see what I can find. If she does get an impacted crop, I believe I am to get oil and massage her crop right? It’s night right now so I will have to check on her tomorrow. Thanks again.

 

[chickentrains]

Thanks for the suggestion. I’ll see what I can find. If she does get an impacted crop, I believe I am to get oil and massage her crop right? It’s night right now so I will have to check on her tomorrow. Thanks again.

Have no idea how to fix impacted crop, I just know ingesting things that aren't food can cause it. Hope she will be okay after eating that.

 

[Random Fluffy Chicken]

Have no idea how to fix impacted crop, I just know ingesting things that aren't food can cause it. Hope she will be okay after eating that.

I hope so too. I can find other threads about impacted crop on here so I can get information there. Maybe I’ll research sour crop as well, just in case. I’ll just have to wait and see. Thank you, have a good rest of your day!

 

[chickentrains]

I hope so too. I can find other threads about impacted crop on here so I can get information there. Maybe I’ll research sour crop as well, just in case. I’ll just have to wait and see. Thank you, have a good rest of your day!

You too. Somebody else is likely to chime in eventually.

 

[Malkaris]

I use straw in the coop during the winter, there are long strands, not small chips like the shavings. maybe try that?

I've have both shaving and straw in my coop and run and I've occasionally seen my hens eat both with no ill effects. Hens like to pick at everything so maybe it had some food dust or something on it?

But regarding the OP's question: I think if it happens quite a bit it could turn into a problem but I personally wouldn't panic right away (stop laughing at me everyone!). Do the birds have access to grit so they can grind any non-commercial chicken feed things they might ingest?

 

[Random Fluffy Chicken]

I've have both shaving and straw in my coop and run and I've occasionally seen my hens eat both with no ill effects. Hens like to pick at everything so maybe it had some food dust or something on it?

But regarding the OP's question: I think if it happens quite a bit it could turn into a problem but I personally wouldn't panic right away (stop laughing at me everyone!). Do the birds have access to grit so they can grind any non-commercial chicken feed things they might ingest?

Unfortunately today it was raining so there wasn’t any time for her to free range and find grit like she usually does. I did find a few small stones for her but didn’t see her eat any. I just changed her bedding too, so I don’t think likely that food dust got on it. Maybe she was stressed since she couldn’t go outside like she usually does.