pullets eating pine shavings

[Little Coop on Salt Creek]

uggh! We did our first major revamp of our new coop today. We went from 2 stacked nesting boxes to a row of 4 boxes. Girls are looking like they might be getting close to laying and our roo is starting to woo them. So... we wanted to make a few changes.
We went from this:
to this:

Thinking that the row is better than the stacked. More room for them to move around for sure and gave us another place for a high roost. Not sure if we gave them too much space between box and top board though. Thinking we could put up a curtain if needed for privacy.
Now for the ugh!... I went in about an hour later and the hens are snacking on the pine shavings! Anyone else have this issue?

 

[Kiki]

It's probably just something new for them.
Make sure they have access to grit and they should be fine.

 

[Little Coop on Salt Creek]

It's probably just something new for them.
Make sure they have access to grit and they should be fine.

they have grit! I noticed it when the boxes were stacked, but not like today.. it was like they were scooping it out by the beak-fulls

 

[Kiki]

Are you sure they weren't just rearranging it?
moving it around?

 

[Little Coop on Salt Creek]

Are you sure they weren't just rearranging it?
moving it around?

More like standing on the shelf that is used to access the boxes and sticking their beaks in and pulling it out. I wonder if adding in the ceramic eggs would help them to know it's for laying in and not eating?!

 

[abraga]

I keep shavings in my coops....change it out weekly. They love new shavings and will dive right in and munch on them..its something they do...never had any problems...and i also make sure to keep plenty of grit on hand as well.

 

[Little Coop on Salt Creek]

I keep shavings in my coops....change it out weekly. They love new shavings and will dive right in and munch on them..its something they do...never had any problems...and i also make sure to keep plenty of grit on hand as well.

Today, they aren't acting like ravenous little vultures about it.. just a little nibble here and there. So, they must just think me changing out the shavings was a treat for them, silly chickies!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Mine enjoy a snack of fresh pine or aspen shavings, usually while sitting in the nest box. Once the shavings aren't so "fresh" any more they lose interest. As long as they aren't eating an excessive amount or very large pieces they should be fine.