all_organic Posted December 20, 2007 Share Posted December 20, 2007 Hi all, We've not posted before, so hello to everybody! We've had our two chickens (Patience and Petunia) and their Eglu since September, and all has been well, absolutely no problems whatsoever. Over the last week or so, though, they seem to have taken to eating their bedding. We use shredded paper (bills etc), as there's plenty of it here, and they've not touched it before but now it's all vanished within a couple of days . Having searched the forum, I see others have mentioned this as well. Is it somethig to worry about, surely it can't be good for them? They're both perfectly okay, eating and drinking normally, and laying too, and if it was a one off I guess I wouldn't worry, but it seems to be becoming a regular part of their diet! Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bantam of the Opera Posted December 20, 2007 Share Posted December 20, 2007 hello and welcome to the forum, im afraid im not really sure about your problem but chickens eat all kinda of things like feathers and grit so im sure a bit of paper wont do them any harm. well, someone a bit more knowledgable might be along soon. I just wanted to say hi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 20, 2007 Share Posted December 20, 2007 Hello and welcome. Mine used to eat their bedding when I used shredded paper. It stopped me worrying about identity theft as I used old bank statements etc. I use Aubiose now and they don't seem to eat that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted December 20, 2007 Share Posted December 20, 2007 Hi & Welcome to the Forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted December 20, 2007 Share Posted December 20, 2007 It stopped me worrying about identity theft as I used old bank statements etc. It would take a very determined ID thief to search for info through paper _eaten_ by a chicken wouldn't it!! Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted December 20, 2007 Share Posted December 20, 2007 Can't say I've noticed my girls eating their bed . I will look for signs now. Sorry can't help - just wanted to say hello . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iChicken Posted December 20, 2007 Share Posted December 20, 2007 Hi and welcome to the forum. Someone recently posted that their chickens were eating sand which just passed through them so I can't see that paper will do them any harm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jos Posted December 21, 2007 Share Posted December 21, 2007 Hi, my speckeldies enjoy eating bits of woodshavings mixed in with their straw.... and they are in good health, so, hopefully, nothing to worry about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted December 21, 2007 Share Posted December 21, 2007 Hi all, Over the last week or so, though, they seem to have taken to eating their bedding. We use shredded paper (bills etc), as there's plenty of it here, and they've not touched it before but now it's all vanished within a couple of days . Any thoughts? Hi, and welcome. Mine eat bits of the shredded paper I bed them on. they don't eat it all, but then, I do use a lot! But I often find them eating it. doesn't seem to cause them any problems Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted December 22, 2007 Share Posted December 22, 2007 I have seen my lot occasionally eat bits of hemcore, also eaten playsand that I put in their homemade dustbath. Didnt have any affect. Isnt it strange that chickens seem to know what they can and cant eat?!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola O Posted December 22, 2007 Share Posted December 22, 2007 Hi quinandcolin My three ex-batts go mad for shredded paper, when cleaned out and with fresh paper in the poop tray and nest it would all be gone in just a few hours. I've changed back to straw for the time being, but still line the tray with a few sheets of paper for ease of cleaning and the chooks now shove their heads between the roosting bars, tear off bits of paper to eat . For some reason they just love it and so far it hasn't done them any harm. Nicola Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
all_organic Posted December 24, 2007 Author Share Posted December 24, 2007 Thanks for the advice all, thy seem to have left the paper alone over the last few days - must have been a strange phase they were going through! And thanks for all the welcomes. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everybody. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted December 27, 2007 Share Posted December 27, 2007 mine eat it too!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farrowy Posted December 27, 2007 Share Posted December 27, 2007 When I tried to put a dust bath in the run for the girls they liked to eat that instead They are funny things aren't they Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 my 2 from omlet always pecked at the shredded paper bedding but my new additions - ex batteries have devoured the whole lot in just 2 days!! they seem to be OK though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
