chickens are eating their nesting wood shavings

[Sherrismoots]

I've noticed my chickens are eating their wood shavings... are they deficient in something? Should I change their nesting material?

 

[AidKD]

I don't think so. I think it's more of something they like to scratch around at and eat. My chickens do this when I put new in their boxes.

 

[rosemarythyme]

It's normal. Especially in the nest box, honestly I think they get bored sitting there and just eat whatever's in reach.

 

[thepick4uchicks]

I've noticed my chickens are eating their wood shavings... are they deficient in something? Should I change their nesting material?

It’s okay. Mine did that mess too. Don’t worry about it. Just let it go. Just get treated shavings and always treated and be sure that yah the swim wood for plane is treated.

 

[aart]

Just get treated shavings and always treated and be sure that yah the swim wood for plane is treated.

Say what?!?!
Never heard of treated shavings @thepick4uchicks

 

[thepick4uchicks]

Say what?!?!
Never heard of treated shavings @thepick4uchicks

Can you delete my post aart? I meant to say always use untreated shavings not treated cedar shavings. However, as to what happened to the rest of this post I do not know. I think I’m going to blame this one on my husband. I’m thinking he was distracting me and interrupted my train of thought. I’m going to respond to OP with proper info and apologize and also my apologies to you as well. Thank you. Geez

 

[aart]

Can you delete my post aart? I meant to say always use untreated shavings not treated cedar shavings. However, as to what happened to the rest of this post I do not know. I think I’m going to blame this one on my husband. I’m thinking he was distracting me and interrupted my train of thought. I’m going to respond to OP with proper info and apologize and also my apologies to you as well. Thank you. Geez

Not sure who you can blame, there are pine shavings and cedar shavings,
neither are treated to my knowledge.

I've noticed my chickens are eating their wood shavings... are they deficient in something? Should I change their nesting material?

@Sherrismoots are they really eating them or just kinda picking at them, maybe putting them on their backs?
How old are your birds?

 

[thepick4uchicks]

Not sure who you can blame, there are pine shavings and cedar shavings,
neither are treated to my knowledge.

@Sherrismoots are they really eating them or just kinda picking at them, maybe putting them on their backs?
How old are your birds?

This has gotten too funny! But that is my fault! However, you can find cedar shavings in the South almost at every feed store and TSC. They are treated and dangerous for poultry to have as bedding material.

 

[aart]

They are treated and dangerous for poultry to have as bedding material.

What are they treated with?
Cedar shavings are not good for birds respiratory system,
but the aromatics are natural not a treatment.

 

[thepick4uchicks]

What are they treated with?
Cedar shavings are not good for birds respiratory system,
but the aromatics are natural not a treatment.

I will definitely take a picture of the bag and informs next time I go. I have also read this information in several books like Raising Chickens for Dummies, the Chicken Chick, and the list of books out there for raising chicks. They all list this specifically. I didn’t make it up. Believe me I quiz my husband thoroughly if he goes to pick up shavings and I don’t.