AJuff Posted February 6, 2008 Share Posted February 6, 2008 Our new hen Hazel has eaten her straw nest today??!!!! She has lots of food if that's what you're thinking!! Will it harm her? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 6, 2008 Share Posted February 6, 2008 Straw and hay are not a good idea. The hens can get impacted crop from eating the long strands which their digestive systems are not able to cope with. Also straw and hay can harbour parasites. Why not try Aubiose or Hemcore....it is super absorbent and they won't eat it....also it composts down beautifully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 6, 2008 Share Posted February 6, 2008 I use shredded paper (cross cut so small pieces) and hemcore - they never eat it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted February 7, 2008 Author Share Posted February 7, 2008 Think I might have to resort to shredded paper or alternatives if this carries on. They'll be laying on hard plastic soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sebowyer Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 They'll try to eat anything once. They may give up quite quickly. If not, the shredded paper is great, and a real challenge to the identity thieves. If they can clone my identity from paper that has been shredded, sat on by hens and then composted, they're probably welcome to it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lera Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 One of mine pulled a sheet of newspaper out of the Eglu tray into the run, ripped it up into little bits and ate them in a single day. Her crop felt hard that evening but she has suffered no ill effects, thank goodness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 One of mine pulled a sheet of newspaper out of the Eglu tray into the run, ripped it up into little bits and ate them in a single day. Her crop felt hard that evening but she has suffered no ill effects, thank goodness. One of my teachers at school (several millenia ago) used to give us homework to read - he used to say we should read and inwardly digest .. so that's just what your girl is doing. I bet she's really up to date with current affairs. Well, unless it was the Sun in which case she's probably gone on a celebrity diet and started worrying about Britney Spears. or whether her bum looks big in her present set of feathers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickaboo Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 Every time I given them a nice clean nest they pull out all the newspaper and eat it!! I've given up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 We have been through all this and now use wood shavings but they do have a tendency to fall through the drain hole, they peck at them occasionally but don't eat them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...