Equine Pine Pellets as bedding - will my girls eat them???

[reedyfork]

I just discovered these (Equine) Pine Pellets at TSC the other day. Bought a couple of 40# bags ($5.99 ea.), but now I'm wondering whether my girls will try to eat them. Anyone had a problem with older chickens eating these pellets? Mine are only 3 months old and still eating crumbles, but thought I'd ask before mixing the pellets into their shavings...

They claim to be all-natural, pine only, low-dust, etc., etc. Anyone have any experience using these pellets? I'm really looking for some form of bedding that doesn't produce as much dust as the pine shavings I've been using.

Thanks!

Ron

 

[greathorse]

I have used them with great results. For a long time we had a breeder on this forum (Gary Geareduplyn) that had been breeding and brooding chicks for years and years and he swore by the pellets. I am sure you can use the search function and find some of that discussion from back then

 

[Kittymomma]

I don't have them in my coop, but I know lots of people do with no problems. I'm going to use them in the brooder next time and already use them for the cat box. Great product.

 

[RockwaterFarm]

I use Eagle Valley ABM, a pelleted wood bedding. My chickens don't eat it and when your done using it it composts really well.

 

[canada-goose]

I use them. The chickens show no interest in eating them. It absorbs water nicely and is much easier to scoop out than straw.

 

[reedyfork]

I've done some more research today, and I can't find where anyone has had negative experiences using these pellets - most info/opinions are very positive. No one seems to have problems or concerns with their chickens eating the pellets, and most love them for their absorbancy, dust-free material, ease of composting, etc.

I guess I'll slowly add them to the existing henhouse bedding of pine shavings (my small, urban henhouse for three girls is only 8sf) and see what happens...

Ron

 

[Chick_a_dee]

They're kind of spendy here but I use them for my ducks

My duck bedding is never wet, and they take a while to expand. For the chickens right now have a layer of the pellets and then I put shavings on top, but I may switch to just pellets when my chickens move to their chicken palace.

 

[aclee]

I read about these on here, and I wanted to try them. I already have a big bale of shavings to use for the chicks (when they get here...next week) but wanted to look into these. 5.99 for 40# seems really cheap. Online I saw 5.99 for only 20#....I wonder if they last longer than shavings?

 

[Coulter603]

I read about these on here, and I wanted to try them. I already have a big bale of shavings to use for the chicks (when they get here...next week) but wanted to look into these. 5.99 for 40# seems really cheap. Online I saw 5.99 for only 20#....I wonder if they last longer than shavings?

If you have a Rural King they are 4.99 for 40 pounds