Why do my chickens like pine wood-shavings?

[jmockbee]

What is it about pine wood-shavings that makes my Buff Orps and Welsummer want to eat them?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Hungry?

Chickens are ravenous eaters and if they don't always have access to feed, they'll eat feces, shavings rocks, sticks, whatever.

 

[rosemarythyme]

A few of mine seem to like to nibble on them at specific locations (entrance of nest box is a favorite) but they always have food available and plenty to forage and dirt to dig through. Guess they're just weird that way.

 

[GC-Raptor]

My pullets would eat pine shavings even when I put them in the coop around 8 or 10 weeks. So I switched to straw and then to compressed straw. I believe its healthier for them to eat than pine shavings. GC

 

[jmockbee]

Thank you for responding. Yes, I think they are hungry, but I have tried every assortment of feed and treats and they like these very briefly. They do range free in my good-sized yard, but still need supplements. I can tell when they are hungry buy the amount of digging they are doing.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

Thank you for responding. Yes, I think they are hungry, but I have tried every assortment of feed and treats and they like these very briefly. They do range free in my good-sized yard, but still need supplements. I can tell when they are hungry buy the amount of digging they are doing.

I would think they should have access to commercial feed all the time.....

IDK, I am new here

Gary from Idyllwild Ca here

 

[jmockbee]

That is interesting. My girls also like to nibble on the wood shavings at the entrance to the coop, especially when they are getting ready to roost for the night.