HELP chickens eating insulation

[Sheila]

The coop was cold enough that my son went out and bought used fiberglas insulation and put it in the walls, covered it with heavy plastic. It was near zero, and we had to throw the chickens out, cause they kept eating the insulation as he was working. They stayed in the crawl space underneath till he finished late last night.

When he went up this morning, they were pecking through the plastic and pulling out the insulation. He got cardboard and began stampling that over the lower half of the walls, but they went right through it.

Right now he's cutting up an old carpet, which he is going to add, nailing that over the plastic.

I pray that they can't peck through the carpet.

Is there anything we can do to keep these danged chickens from going after the insulation, and how much damage can it have done. I'm not sure how much they ate. Is there something I can feed them to move it through. We are in the middle of a snowstorm and have no way to get anything today, or probably even tomorrow.

All suggestions are welcome. Thanks.

 

[dlhunicorn]

I have used vinylflooring for the inside of my coop and also those plastic wall panels thye sell for the walls and ceilings (found a damaged package for five dollars)...

 

[jjthink]

Hardware cloth would likely do the trick too - used that in a small coop and it also kept rats from getting into and nesting in the insulation.
JJ

 

[TxChiknRanchers]

The carpet might work! If not then you might have to get some luan(sp?) plywood to to cover it with.It is thin(1/8) plywood that you can get at any lumber store or do it yourself place. It is usually cheap and relatively easy to work with. It comes in 4x8 sheets and you can cut it to size and cover the insulation with it to stop the pecking.

 

[Cheryl]

DH used luan (yup I don't know how to spell it either) found at any lowe's, home depot....

 

[WoodlandWoman]

I don't know what to tell you at this point, other than to keep them from eating any more of it, by doing whatever it takes. I once knew someone with a litter of puppies that got into that type of insulation and ate it. It shredded their insides and the entire litter bled to dead.

What you really needed over the top is plywood, but if you are snowed in, you are in a tough position. I hope the carpet helps, although I suspect they will want to peck at that, too.

As far as what they've already eaten, time will tell. I hope you can get help from others here, for ideas. I'm really, really, sorry this happened. I hope they only pecked at it and didn't actually consume it, or much of it.

 

[Sheila]

Thanks to everyone for responding. It looks like the carpet is working. I brought them hot oatmeal and chopped apples, and they seem happy. The coop is high on a hill and my son built it when we figured out that the existing one was too small. We are renting, so didn't want to spread out any more than that. But getting up there is rough, especially when he is carrying building materials.

FYI, I called Home Depot to see if they had the 1/8 inch playwood in stock, and the man I talked to said that osb board (pressed board) is 1/2 inch thick and half the price.

My son used some of it for roofing the coop, got it at a place that sells recycled building materials, and it is a good buy.

Now if it would only stop snowing.

Thanks again,
Sheila

 

[WoodlandWoman]

I'm glad they are still doing fine and not bothering the carpet. Maybe this will all work out fine. I think a lot of different paneling type materials would work fine. Plywood was just my first thought and I was posting in a rush, after reading your message. Thank you for the update. I was wondering how they were doing.

 

[TxChiknRanchers]

FYI, I called Home Depot to see if they had the 1/8 inch playwood in stock, and the man I talked to said that osb board (pressed board) is 1/2 inch thick and half the price.

Great I use 7/16 osb all the time for interior work or where it will be protected from rain and water. It sell for less than $6.00 a sheet around here. I was thinking the luan would be easier to handle in tight places since it is very flexible and light but the osb will do a good job for you. Maybe the carpet will do the job!

Randy​