Please someone help ASAP!!

[DarleneE]

We just put our 9 week old hens in their new coop and they're eating the pine shavings!! What do I do?? Will that harm them?? I'm SO scared?? Please someone answer me?????

 

[nguyenkinhphuc2]

I think no.

 

[abbymckinn]

I don't think it will kill your birds or anything.. I have read cedar are bad, pine can be ok. Some people's chickens have reacted badly, others are fine. I would just monitor your chickens and see how they are doing, chickens are curious little critters! They peck at pretty much everything! If you are still concerned, or if they aren't responding well, then just take the shavings out. They should be fine, especially if you can free range them then they won't even be in the coop that much. Good luck!

 

[abbymckinn]

I just remembered and Im pretty sure my chickens have cedar shavings and they are fine.

 

[DarleneE]

Ooooh MY I sure hope so!! I've raised my girls with so much love and have gotten SO attached to them that if anything happens to them I'd just be devastated!! Seems like now they're getting more acquainted with the coop, their food and water and not eating as much as when they first went in. I'm praying they just stop eating it altogether!! I'd certainly be more at ease!! Thanks to all of you for responding to me.

 

[abbymckinn]

No problem! I know, I love my chickens too! Just watch or any kind of respiratory problems, and if not i think they should be fine. Have fun with your chickies!

 

[DarleneE]

Thank you!! Big relief!! I WILL swap these out first thing tomorrow!!

 

[josytang]

There has been a lot of speculation with pine shavings affecting the chicken's health, but in all honesty, I raised my chicks on them and they are fine. As to the eating shaving problem: when they are first introduced to the shavings, they would peck at it and check them out; it is their instincts. But once they have learned that those are not food, then they will stop eating them. It also helps if you could assist them to find the feed.

 

[Vikingwolves]

Ours were raised from chicks to about 4 months in pine shavings with no problems at all

 

[DarleneE]

You are SO right because I put their food bowl under their noses and also some mealworms in another bowl and they seem to be going more for that now and less for the shavings!! Thank heavens.. I was SO panicked!! lol