If they are this smart why do they eat the pine shavings?

[zachslc]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7975260.stm

 

[zachslc]

My number of posts reset to one...weird. Maybe baby chicks could troubleshoot the forum.

 

[speckledhen]

Babies eat shavings for the same reason a toddler puts stuff in his mouth. They don't know any better at that age. They learn quickly, though.

 

[esjro]

A couple of my adult hens (actually, the two that are not so bright) still eat pine shavings.

 

[spook]

Quote:
And Speckle, when do they grow up? I just took a plastic cover from a coffee cup away from them, they we fighting over it. Then styrofoam, glass- one ate the other day, its definitely a do not item, but the old farmer said it will grind up with the rocks, smooth it down and pass.
I wonder if taste has anything to do with it? When your chicks get bigger and you feed them grapes all along, then you give them an apple peel, holding it in you hand, you will see their little tongue come out to taste. The taste is probably very minimal, except they love sweet and you must keep those as treats and bribes!

But my adult hens have to be tended to as they will try anything twice!