WORRIED: Chickens eating bedding

[LindaNL]

I just changed the bedding for the chickens to this brand:

I like it because I can keep it clean very easily. But I noticed that they are eating it quite a lot!! I'm worried for an impacted crop or something else. Should I change their bedding again? If yes, are there any recommendations?

Thanks!

 

[FortCluck]

What are you feeding them? How old are they?

 

[LindaNL]

Naturesmart (in a treadle feeder), a few hands of scratch and peck (the one without corn) in the morning and some dried worms. I think I've got that right, they seem to be doing very well on this food.

They are already old: 4.5 and 7.5yrs.

We used to have free access to hay, so we used that in their coop. The coop was small and dark, they were only in there to sleep. No problems...
But now we've moved, and they live (temporarly) in the garage and have access to a small part of the backyard. It's lighter and bigger inside than what they are used to, and they are there more often.
I did notice that they had to get used to the treadle feeder all over again. So I left it open, but they are still hasitent to use it. Should I maybe put more of the naturesmart on the floor, so they eat that instead of the chopped straw?

 

[aart]

I did notice that they had to get used to the treadle feeder all over again. So I left it open, but they are still hasitent to use it.

That's odd...wonder if one got bonked by it?
Might want to put out a different feeder for now....rather than toss feed on the ground.
How long since you moved and they have had this new bedding?
Might just be curiosity and/or moving stress.

 

[FortCluck]

I think that maybe the move has caused them to change some behaviors just due to stress. It's a new environment and it's a big change for them.

Maybe they aren't foraging as much because you said that they're spending more time in their new living quarters.

I'm sure when you move them out of the garage and into their Coop, things will go back to normal.

 

[Aunt Angus]

My birds eat hay and whatever else grows in their yard after we mow/cut, but I don't worry too much if the pieces are small enough. If its chopped straw and the pieces are small, it's probably fine. But I agree with aart. They may just be eating it because of the treadle issue.

And you know how chickens are. They freak out with change. They may still be adjusting after the move.

 

[LindaNL]

Yeah, it was very stressfull (however, I think I got more stress than them, haha). We moved from CO to MA! They did soo good. BUT yes, they are still ajusting... It has already been 2 months, but they are still freaked when a branch is falling far away, or when they hear a bird/sound they don't know.
We are making a nice coop for them. It should, finally, be ready within 2 weeks. They will probably be freaking out when I move them there as well!

So, when we first got here, I gave them cedar shavings (I thought that was better than pine shavings, since it was more expensive, haha). But, than I read that you should never give them cedar shavings. So I ordered this chopped straw about a month ago. It's good to know that I don't really have to worry too much if they eat the bedding, because it's chopped... I guess I've got the right thing after all... I just should have some more patience (and give them an other feeder for now).

Thanks a lot!!
*first picture is the coop that we are building right now, the 2nd and 3rd is where they live now (the garage)

 

[aart]

first picture is the coop that we are building right now

WOWZA!!
Do you have a build thread going?

So I ordered this chopped straw about a month ago. It's good to know that I don't really have to worry too much if they eat the bedding, because it's chopped... I guess I've got the right thing after all.

If they've been doing it for a month and you've seen no clogged crops(I'll assume you've checked and provide digestive granite grit?), they should be fine.

Curious what their droppings look like...when mine get 'extra roughage' it can pass thru almost unchanged.

 

[ChocolateWingTheRooster]

I think it’s normal, ours eat hay, so...

 

[LindaNL]

Yesterday one of them had very watery droppings, and then I saw her eating so much of the bedding that I became worried. This morning I checked her crop and it wasn't impacted. Her poop was also fine today. I probably just overreacted! oops

No, I didn't start a build tread, but I would loooove to share the process! Maybe some people are interested? I will start one!!