Preventing them from eating too much rubbish

[SusanD]

Hi,

I had a couple questions about things my chickens were/are eating. The first one had to do with my Dad giving them clippings from his lawnmower (yay, geen stuff)

. The problem is that not all of the grass clippings were eaten. The ones that are left are starting to smell like old wet grass (like the grass clippings in our yard debris bin smell. Will the old grass clippings harm the chickens if/when they eat them? If so, I will rake them up.

The other question has to do with eating pine shavings. They were on coconut litter for a long time as chicks, and then we switched them to pine shavings. I'm hoping that wasn't a mistake. They will eat the pine shavings that fall on the run floor, and I,ve caught all three of them eating the shavings near the coop door. Today, I prodded my reluctant Langshan out of the coop for fear she would eat the pine shavings (I don't really want to do this, because she is getting very close to laying her first egg, and I of course I want her to lay in the next boxes). Do I need to worry that the pine shavings will block their crop or cause their nutrition to suffer? If so, is there a good way to go about breaking them of the habit?

Thanks,

Susan

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I wouldn't worry about the grass clippings unless it bothers you, next time spread them out a bit so they dry and not mold, we put clippings in our run just so it breaks down and enriches the soil, deep litter system.

I don't think your chickens are actually eating the shavings, I use them all the time, it's only a concern when they are chicks and learning what to eat.

 

[SusanD]

Thanks for your reply. I will definitely try spreading the grass clippings out (or raking them up if the run gets damp).

On the shavings, I'm not quite sure what to say - I think they do know what their food looks like, as they seem to eat plenty of it. However, I'm pretty sure I've seen them swallow the odd shaving as well. It may be partly curiosity pecking (i.e. what's that thing that just fluttered to the ground - maybe I should taste it and find out?).

Susan

 

[CrazyTalk]

My local feed stores have two types of shavings - Southern States has some that are really small - and I've absolutely seen chicks eating it - I don't use it anymore with young birds. Tractor Supply has shavings that have a much larger flake size, and I have had absolutely no issue with these.

Any chance you can take a picture of some shavings in your hand (or next to a coin for size comparison)?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I didn't think of that as I always use the flake shavings, not the fine, definitely don't use the small stuff, I don't think eating and odd shaving here and there will hurt them though, I'm sure they can grind them up as well as grains and grass.

 

[SusanD]

Here is a picture of the shavings. Please let me know if you do have information on larger size ones. Especially, if they would be usable as run flooring (not just in the coop).

Thanks,

Susan

 

[rides2far]

I buy pine flakes at Tractor Supply. They're not as fine or as dusty as shavings. I use shavings in the nesting boxes & flakes on the coop floor.

 

[SusanD]

Thanks. I will take a look at the feedstores and see if I can find some larger ones.