Pine Shavings in covered run

[karinm072]

I realize they have construction sand available as mentioned in your first post, depending on what is consists of, the particles they find just may not be hard enough for them to be able to process the straw properly. A bag of grit will last a very long time and it won't hurt to see if having the granite will help resolve your crop issues. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/the-science-of-feeding-grit-to-poultry.891051/

Seems it's the other way round with mine, my pullets eat some of the pine needles and my older girls leave it be

There’s no figuring out chickens!. I did mention that I do keep poultry grit available- the same one, Manna Pro previously posted above. Thanks for looking out for my girls!

 

[karinm072]

Grit works mostly in the gizzard not the crop......don't think that would help an impacted crop caused from gorging on straw.

Thanks! I do understand the grit-gizzard function. I agree, if I wasn’t already offering grit, it wouldn’t help the impacted crop much. I am looking for an alternative to straw for added warmth and considering shavings instead.

 

[blackdog043]

Using wood shavings, would help with warmth. I use DL, consisting of wood chips, leaves, grass clippings, pine cones, yard waste, a little straw and wood shavings from the coop.

 

[Dinosaur Feed]

Yes, works great. I take old pine flake out from coop and put it into the run and put fresh pine in the coop.

Does it smell at all when you put the used shavings into the run? My husband has been wanting to do this for years but I wont let him in fear that it will smell too much. Our run is fairly close to the house.