I know that putting a pile of leaves in the run is ok, but pine needles?

[cluckmecoop7]

Hi again everyone!

I've asked about putting leaves in the chicken run for entertainment, and everyone said that it wouldn't harm the chickens and that they would have lots of fun. But now I'm wondering the same about pine needles. I have A LOT of them in my yard, and was thinking I could rake them up and put them in a pile in the chicken run! Would that be ok? Or can pine needles hurt chickens somehow?

Thanks in advance!

- Clucky

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

Absolutely you can.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Oh goodie! I'll do it!

 

[CluckNDoodle]

They don't hurt the chickens. My hens free-range and love digging through the pine needles. If the broody hens deem it safe to forage through with their chicks, I say it's ok. lol

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Alright!

 

[aart]

Long flexible pine needles?....or short, hard, and sharp pine needles?
I'd avoid the latter.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

I'm not sure what kind they are, but they and bright orange and...well, I'll get you a pic asap.

 

[Cindy in PA]

IDK about the short hard ones, mine did OK. I used to put my Christmas trees in the run & they loved eating the blue spruce needles & their egg yolks were bright orange. Never seem to bother them. YMMV

 

[aart]

IDK about the short hard ones, mine did OK. I used to put my Christmas trees in the run & they loved eating the blue spruce needles & their egg yolks were bright orange. Never seem to bother them. YMMV

Spruce are not too sharp at ends.

 

[MIchickenlady]

I put a large branch from a white pine (long flexible needles) in the run and noticed my girls eating the fresh pine needles. I rake dry leaves and pine needles and put in my run quite often.