Eating the fence

[Poodlemum]

Why in the world are the girls eating my fence??? It’s old and stuff, but I’m worried they’ll get a head stuck or eaten… Are they lacking something? Bored? Do we have termites? lol

 

[rosemarythyme]

Are termites a possibility?

Mine have tried eating paint, wood trim (like chipwood board), and concrete, so... no accounting for a chicken's tastes.

 

[Poodlemum]

Are termites a possibility?

Mine have tried eating paint, wood trim (like chipwood board), and concrete, so... no accounting for a chicken's tastes.

Google says they are in Utah, but we’ve had no sign of them that I’m aware of. It’s just an old wood fence that keeps the dog in (the neighbors dog is breaking parts because he’s a vicious shithead that’s left out 24/7) and the neighbors chickens (or shih thus) haven’t eaten their way through from the other side lol. It’s not just that part, but that’s the most obvious. I am 99% certain that it had to have happened today. It’s right at the spot I step over a garden fence and have to look down so I don’t step on anyone. The only difference is we had 60° temps today after being in the 30s. Maybe it frisked them up some

 

[rosemarythyme]

Google says they are in Utah, but we’ve had no sign of them that I’m aware of. It’s just an old wood fence that keeps the dog in

Hmm, weird. Since I see some deer fencing(?) in the corner of the photo, if you have some excess of that you might want to pull it across the damaged section of wood fence to discourage them from picking at it.

 

[Poodlemum]

Hmm, weird. Since I see some deer fencing(?) in the corner of the photo, if you have some excess of that you might want to pull it across the damaged section of wood fence to discourage them from picking at it.

That’s a great idea! Hopefully it’s thawed enough after today to move it. Been stuck there for months

 

[kurby22]

My chickens are doing the same thing!! One in particular seems especially fond of fence pecking! Whyyyyyyy?? It too is old wood, but no termites. It can’t be good for their insides to consume either! Makes me wonder if they’re needing something in their diet they’re not getting, or if they’re just weird

 

[Poodlemum]

My chickens are doing the same thing!! One in particular seems especially fond of fence pecking! Whyyyyyyy?? It too is old wood, but no termites. It can’t be good for their insides to consume either! Makes me wonder if they’re needing something in their diet they’re not getting, or if they’re just weird

I’m glad I don’t have the only little turds!

 

[raingarden]

I bet they would stop pecking the fence is you gave them a piece of polystyrene foam (Styrofoam) to work on.

 

[Callender Girl]

My chickens aren't eating wood, but my ducks have decided to devour what's left of an old apple tree stump by the house. Yesterday, I watched two of them chowing down on it, and I keep finding big pieces scattered on the ground around the stump.

The geese, on the other hand, have found that wooden trim on the house is delicious -- that is, after they RUINED a wooden settee by chewing off chunks of the seat and arms. And someone (?) is eating trim on the Cochin Bantams' coop. Since it's on the coop's outside, I don't suspect my little hens.

The avian mind -- and appetite -- is sometimes a total mystery to me.

 

[MadGardener]

I've noticed my gals love to pick moss off wood, but that photo looks like there is some insect damage to your fence.

If you're concerned about fence damage or your birds eating treated wood, definitely block access.

If it's a fence you want to keep, a product labeled "wood restorer" would help stop some of the rot. If it was me I'd slap some of that on any darker spots on both sides. I've been very satisfied with wood restorer. It worked wonders under a leaky window while renovating my old house. It will change the color of the wood where applied however.

Is the fence getting dripped on from a roof or something similar?