Eating wood chips

[ckeene1990]

I have week old baby chicks, I noticed them pecking and possibly eating their wood chips, I changed to paper towels for a week. I just put large shavings from tractor supply back in, and the go right back to pecking at the small pieces. I can’t tell if they are eating it or not, not sure what to do.

 

[puddle_drinker]

I have week old baby chicks, I noticed them pecking and possibly eating their wood chips, I changed to paper towels for a week. I just put large shavings from tractor supply back in, and the go right back to pecking at the small pieces. I can’t tell if they are eating it or not, not sure what to do.

It's normal for baby and even older chickens to peck at and sometimes eat small pieces of things on the ground.

 

[ckeene1990]

It's normal for baby and even older chickens to peck at and sometimes eat small pieces of things on the ground.

My concern is that they are going to eat too much and get impacted. They go crazy over the chips

 

[SandyRiverChick]

Make sure you are offering chick grit........

 

[puddle_drinker]

My concern is that they are going to eat too much and get impacted. They go crazy over the chips

What food are you providing them, and are they eating it? If you don't see them eating the food you provide that could be a problem.

 

[ckeene1990]

What food are you providing them, and are they eating it? If you don't see them eating the food you provide that could be a problem.

That’s the thing, they eat really well from their food, no trouble there at all.

 

[puddle_drinker]

That’s the thing, they eat really well from their food, no trouble there at all.

I wouldn't worry about it then. In general, chickens are fairly good at avoiding things they shouldn't eat or amounts of food that aren't good for them.

As previously mentioned you could give them some sand in a small plate for them to eat as grit.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Make sure you are offering chick grit........

x2. Chicks will pick up anything that fits in their mouths and try eating it as they learn what's food and what's not. As long as they aren't gorging on the wood if they have access to appropriate size grit they should be fine.

 

[Huntmaster]

x2. Chicks will pick up anything that fits in their mouths and try eating it as they learn what's food and what's not. As long as they aren't gorging on the wood if they have access to appropriate size grit they should be fine.

View attachment 3761173

X3

 

[Wesbflyer]

I just graduated mine to shavings yesterday. They started picking up chips to taste, but mainly just flung them around. So, I sprinkled some of their feed where they could see it, and they attacked that. In a few minutes, they had lost interest in the chips.