Chicks eating weird things

[MissRaychel91]

It is funny to see them pecking a piece of stryofoam or a paper plate; Last week I used a chain saw on a plexi-glass sheet and they tried to eat any shavings that got near them!

Oh really?! That has me worried the most, see where I'm putting my barn/chicken coop there are hundreds or thousands of little pieces of Styrofoam from potting soil, and metal shavings, nails, all kinds of construction scrap. Do I need to shovel all that dirt out of there or do you think it'll be okay?

 

[Mosey2003]

Oh really?! That has me worried the most, see where I'm putting my barn/chicken coop there are hundreds or thousands of little pieces of Styrofoam from potting soil, and metal shavings, nails, all kinds of construction scrap. Do I need to shovel all that dirt out of there or do you think it'll be okay?

I would *definitely* get a strong rolling magnet and go over that area many times, churning the dirt in between. Eating nails and metal will hurt them, possibly kill them, and they WILL eat it. The styrofoam will pass through their systems fine, and while not ideal, probably won't hurt them.

 

[MissRaychel91]

Oh no! Where would I get a magnet? There's prob broken glass too.
I thought about digging down and placing some fiber glass, with small holes drilled in it for drainage, then covering it with bedding, is that a good idea or should I just clean up the area ad much as possible?

 

[Mosey2003]

I'd clean it up as much as possible. They sell the magnets at home improvement and farm stores, they're for cleaning up work sites. If you have any handyman type friends, they should have one.

 

[Flockandfowl46]

If your free ranging your babies make sure to offer them free choice grit

 

[Shadrach]

Oh really?! That has me worried the most, see where I'm putting my barn/chicken coop there are hundreds or thousands of little pieces of Styrofoam from potting soil, and metal shavings, nails, all kinds of construction scrap. Do I need to shovel all that dirt out of there or do you think it'll be okay?

Whoa! That's not a good idea, especially the metal shavings.
While it's true just because a chicken pecks at something it doesn't mean they'll eat it, they do eat earth.
If you want to do it right put the coop somewhere else!

 

[MissRaychel91]

I'd clean it up as much as possible. They sell the magnets at home improvement and farm stores, they're for cleaning up work sites. If you have any handyman type friends, they should have one.

Thank you so much! I'll def do that!

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Also, those white bits in potting soil are not Styrofoam so don't worry about those. They are vermiculite.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermiculite
It's a mineral and should be fine for them to consume.

 

[Acre4Me]

Also, those white bits in potting soil are not Styrofoam so don't worry about those. They are vermiculite.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermiculite
It's a mineral and should be fine for them to consume.

Actually could be perlite, rather than vermiculite. Either way, not harmful to the chickens.

“Vermiculite and perlite are both non-organic soil additives that are used to aerate the soil. As rooting mediums, they offer this same benefit. Vermiculite is a spongy material made from mica whereas perlite is a type of highly porous volcanic glass that resembles pumice. Perlite appears as small, round, non-uniform, white particles. Some people mistake perlite in potting soil mixtures for Styrofoam balls”. Quote obtained from world seed supply website.

 

[Mosey2003]

Thank you so much! I'll def do that!

The magnets are super handy, they sell them on a stick or as a roller. I don't use it more than a couple times a year, but when I DO need it, I'm very glad we have one. Dropping nails or screws into bedding/dirt floor is my usual issue. It makes me feel better to know I got it, rather than hope it went outside the pen rather than in it.