Well, hay!

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Last year I had a bale of straw to put down on the muddy places in the run and yard. The chickens got ahold of it and had a blast. But I'm thinking that the straw has no nutritional value at all. I keep seeing the square straw bales for sale around here and I'm thinking of getting some to toss in the run this winter when they aren't getting to free range as often. What do we think of hay? They'd still have access to layer pellets and the occasional treat. The hay would be for entertainment mostly.

Thoughts?

 

[kidd42]

I put hay in the hen house and the run area. I break it up and spread it around the hen house. It keeps it smelling fresh as opposed to the straw smell. I also put in in the run in the flakes and let the girls scratch at it and tear it up. Gives them something to do, and they enjoy picking through it and eating the grass's.

 

[mountainchick5]

I just got a bale of hay to put in the coop on top of the shavings. I heard that it adds some insulation for the winter. The chickens LOVE it! They can nibble on the seeds and it gives them something to do when it's too yucky to run around outside. So far they're having a blast.

 

[jenikay63]

I'm not positive, but I think feeding hay or straw to chickens could be problematic as it can cause impacted crops. I've seen a few posts on this site about impacted crops and when surgery was done, it was hay and straw that didn't pass through.

 

[chookchick]

Yes, that is true. I'd love to put some hay out for my girls, but I'm really nervous about impacted crops. Perhaps if they have plenty of grit it is not a problem? Would like to hear other experiences...

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Yeah, that was my worry. I know the girls would love to play in it. They don't seem to eat the straw. They do pick out the random seed heads and munch on those. With hay, technically all of it is edible. I worry that there might be health repercussions.
Hmmm....

 

[cmom]

I buy bales of alfalfa for my birds. I try to get nice green bales. They love to scratch in it and before you know it the little leaves are all gone and there are only stems left.

 

[SallyF]

I had a small bale of alfalfa that was left when my guinea pig died, so I put it in the nest boxes. The hens ate all of it, but no one suffered any problems because of it.

 

[txredneckmedic]

I give my chickens fresh alfalfa all the time

 

[buck431397]

i put hay in my run, and while it was fun for a while, now its a big soggy gross mess. Of course, that could be my ducks making that mess, but im gonna have to change my bedding in there.