Chicken gobbling pine shavings

[BeautifulPacificNorthwest]

I lifted the door on my nesting boxes and one of my RIR's peeked out at me. I watched her reach in into the nesting box and gobble down a short piece of straw. She then picked up a small pine wood shaving piece and gobbled it down...then another...then another...

All told, she ate about 5 small pieces as I watched paralyzed with amazement. When I recovered from the surprise, I shooed her out and away. Temporary fix at best if she is determined to eat them.

So, how worried should I be? I've never observed my chickens eating the shavings before. She free ranges during the day and always has free access to Purina Flock Block, layer crumbles/pellets, cherry stone and oyster shell.

What is up with that?

 

[ThePolishPrincess]

I've had some special cases gobble up shavings, too. I found, in my case, that I cannot give my layer flock shavings because when they were done with their 'chick stage' I took them off them and gave them hay instead. Then, a few years later, I started getting shavings for my Silkies again and gave some to the layers. When I put the stuff down, they forgot what shavings were and would eat them at first chance. My Silkie flock was raised on them from chickhood to adulthood and knows them as bedding and nesting material, not food.

If your birds have always had them I'm not sure why there's this problem now? Some just aren't the brightest colors in the box.

 

[Wild Trapper]

I have seen hens do that too. I have wheat straw and they peck at that and eat it too.

didn't ever seem to kill them, although I did have a chick try to eat a piece of straw and get it caught in its throat and it died with it caught there. I found it to late to pull it out and save it.