Eating Wood Shavings

[ChickenCrazy8]

My chicks are 4weeks old, and I have noticed that they sometimes eat wood shavings, and yes they do actually eat them. I had them on paper towel till they were around one week old, and they are eating their chick feed, so that's good. Pretty much, I was wondering if there are any long term negative effects from them eating pine wood shavings once in a while.
Thanks in advance!!

 

[Lahti35]

Mine are 6 weeks old and I've noticed this as well. Like you I kept them on paper towels for a week since they were a day old. They have had access to food and water 24/7.

Frankly they try to eat everything... feathers, wood shavings, poop, etc... Mine have been doing it since they got off the paper towels. Sometimes they wipe their beaks on the ground as if to say "that was nasty!" but they continue the behavior. I guess they're exploring the world one edible thing at a time... that or they're not smart chickens, beats me!

They poop just fine though and I have lost 0 out of 20.. everybody looks healthy so far!

 

[ChickenCrazy8]

Thanks so much for your input!! It makes me feel a lot better knowing that my chickens aren't the only ones acting silly

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Cheers,

 

[SusanD]

My chickens will eat shavings and other stuff on the ground also. I have noticed some slightly off looking dropping from them, and was wondering if that could be part of the problem?

 

[ChickenCrazy8]

It would make sense that if they are eating weird things, their feces would look strange! Below is a chart of droppings, which ones are okay and which ones are bad: http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=17568.0
Cheers,