Unsecure chicken perches

[purplenicky]

Hello,

 

Does anyone else have hens that eat strange things?

 

Mine have a habit of finding pieces of polystyrene and I frequently have to steal it off them. Just recently though they have started pulling the silicone sealant out of my door frame. I would rather they didn't but I don't know how to stop them.

 

Any ideas?

 

Thanks,

 

Nicky

[Margaret]

Hi Nicky,

Dont know the answer but mine love the polystyrene as well, have been very vigilant when putting in the bedding plants, but if I miss a bit they go bonkers, seem to love it as much as tomato's

[knackered]

i read on a chicken forum that someone actually gives their chicken polystyrene to peck at because it just comes out the other end - not sure i'd go that far but i'm sure a little wont harm them. To stop them eating the sealant how about coating it in something yuck?

[Verity F]

My lavender Pekin is obsessed with polystyrene! I'd broken up bedding trays to use as drainage in come containers last year, and since I've been repotting stuff she's managed to find stray bits no matter how careful I've been. She runs about like she's just unearthed the biggest prize

 

You could try wiping something bitter-tasting like aloe juice on the sealant (or some of that stuff that is supposed to stop you biting your nails? I think it's the aloe in that which tastes awful)... basically, just try and make it taste revolting without using anything too harmful. It's a bit of a shot in the dark, but it's what I'd try!

[coco]

Have you tried spraying it with anti chew spray for puppies. It tastes and smell horrible and stopped my two year old GSD chewing the legs on my NEW dining table. Check its ok for poultry first though.

[jennydavies]

What about trying Anti-peck spray on it ? if the Ukadex one tastes anything as bad as it smells, it might just work

[chickenopolis]

I can't offer any advice, just to say that mine starting ripping the sealant out of the patio windows earlier this week.

Gloria was pulling at it; I think she thought it was a worm that wasn't getting away.

As she ran up the garden with it in her mouth, I have to manhandle (or should that be "womanhandle") her to the ground and had to take it out of her beak as I am sure she had started swallowing it!

She's never done that before - perhaps the chook telegraph is working and this is their new plan of action!

[jennydavies]

Did you do a rugby tackle on her ?

[batcatz]

Hi, I used to give my hens polystyrene all the time as I also read it on another forum. It kept them occupied for ages! They didn't become ill, but then I read on here (I think) that it wasn't a good idea.