New Buff Orpingtons...Devouring wood shavings

[drawlins]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I'll stick with the fresh bed for now, they seem to love rolling in it, especially when I've dusted it with diatomaceous earth.

 

[21hens-incharge]

One week in to owning three BO's for the first time, and we've changed bedding materials twice already!

We were recommended by a very experienced breeder (3000 chickens on site at any one time), that wood shavings were the best bedding material. However, our buffs were not from that breeder and decided that wood is pretty tasty - they've grown up living with straw.

We've got a wireless camera set up and so spotted them gobbling copious amounts of shavings and so had a late-night emergency cleaning session to remove the shavings for fear they'll get an impaction.

So-back to straw, we've got a brand here called Dengie Fresh Bed and it's been endorsed by the Hen Welfare Trust, so I'm assuming it's safe for chickens despite some concerns I've read about straw impactions? This straw is chopped and is quite fine, also being gently infused with pine oil. They love it, and don't seem to eat it much at all.

Just wondered about experiences on here- does anyone else see these issues? Here's a snip from this evening, of the three ladies snoozing on the floor despite a lovely roost above them!

David
View attachment 1940521

Not a bedding response but an observation....
Your coop is rather narrow with all the stuff lined up on the right in the picture. That may be one reason they are not using the roost. They need room to get up there and back down.
Maybe having the roost run across the other way (left to right in your picture) will help.

Thanks everyone for your replies. I'll stick with the fresh bed for now, they seem to love rolling in it, especially when I've dusted it with diatomaceous earth.

Please be aware that DE is not proven effective in killing lice and mites. It is also a vet fine powder that is very irritating to lungs....both chicken and human.
If you want to continue using it please at the very least wear a good dust mask while you handle it and while you clean the coop.

 

[aart]

I wouldn't worry too much about them eating the shavings, I'd guess they soon will stop after they become acclimated to their new home.

Your coop is rather narrow with all the stuff lined up on the right in the picture. That may be one reason they are not using the roost. They need room to get up there and back down.
Maybe having the roost run across the other way (left to right in your picture) will help.

Being discussed here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/buff-orpington-roost-training-and-tantrums.1337172/

 

[21hens-incharge]

I wouldn't worry too much about them eating the shavings, I'd guess they soon will stop after they become acclimated to their new home.


Being discussed here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/buff-orpington-roost-training-and-tantrums.1337172/

I had not seen that. Thanks.

 

[drawlins]

Thank you for the advice