chickenopolis Posted December 9, 2010 Share Posted December 9, 2010 Hi I line the nest box of the cube with a sheet of newspaper, then shredded paper (usually old receipts and bills and then hay (the girls refuse to sit on straw - I have tried.. ) Lately, when I have been "fluffing up the hay" to make it snuggy for them, they seem very interested in trying to get some of the shredded paper and then eating it. Why would they do that. They get plenty of food and treats.. but has anyone got any ideas why they eat the white paper. I have to say, when I am cleaning the cube with white kitchen roll, they try to have a peck at that as well. Is it just the colour? Will it do them any harm? Am confused - can anyone shed any light on this please??? Thank you. Sarah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perfectspace Posted December 9, 2010 Share Posted December 9, 2010 Mine seem to do the same occasionally, although not every day! I suspect it's because it simply looks tasty! However, absolutely no harm done. They seem to digest it pretty well. I'd only be concerned if they were eating loads which might have some effect on their crop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted December 9, 2010 Share Posted December 9, 2010 Please don't use hay. It can cause respiratory problems & can contain fungus spores. Better to just use lots of shredded paper or newspaper, easibed, then shredded paper. Mine sometimes nibble a bit of shredding - I'm hoping for gift wrapped eggs! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madchickenlady Posted December 9, 2010 Share Posted December 9, 2010 I use sheets of newspaper under the perch in the coop so that I can keep the floor clean easily. If one of my girls is in a mood, they can often be heard tearing strips off of it and then tossing it out of the pop hole I don't think they eat it, though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenopolis Posted December 9, 2010 Author Share Posted December 9, 2010 I change the hay every couple of days, I am religious about poo picking and if it feels the slightest bit cold/damp, I replace everything in the nest box. I know people have said that I shouldn't use hay, but the girls just don't go in the nest box when it has straw in it - they make an awful noise and just stand on the roosting bars of the Cube preferring to lay their eggs on the roosting bars, which in turn sometimes crack and break. I've tried just shredded paper - they don't lay on that - hay is the only thing they snuggle down in, either to sleep or to lay an egg. What can I do?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted December 9, 2010 Share Posted December 9, 2010 My Wyandottes shred newspaper and one eats it so have had to remove it all. They still find some - how? Anyway no blockages thank goodness but they gave me a worried few days. If they didn't eat it I'd give it to them to play with Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted December 9, 2010 Share Posted December 9, 2010 I change the hay every couple of days, I am religious about poo picking and if it feels the slightest bit cold/damp, I replace everything in the nest box. I know people have said that I shouldn't use hay, but the girls just don't go in the nest box when it has straw in it - they make an awful noise and just stand on the roosting bars of the Cube preferring to lay their eggs on the roosting bars, which in turn sometimes crack and break. I've tried just shredded paper - they don't lay on that - hay is the only thing they snuggle down in, either to sleep or to lay an egg. What can I do?? Basically... I think they really like hay! Mine have also just discovered the delights of hay, as I bought some to pack into the nest box (where they sleep) to keep them warmer through these cold nights. I am currently working on the principle that I defy any fungal spores to grow in this weather Up till now my girls have never entertained the idea of actually laying eggs in the nest box, it's just been a sort of mezzanine bedroom for them. Instead they lay their eggs on the floor of the coop which I have been covering in wood shavings to make it more cosy for them. However, since the arrival of the hay in the nest box, eggs have magically started appearing in there (after over a year of keeping these hens! so I can only assume that hay is the bedding of choice. Not sure how I'm going to be able to withdraw it after this cold weather now, they're going to be pretty cross..... Edited to add: I started off using shredded paper when I first got my girls but the dust that comes off it is horrendous, so I stopped using it. Surely that can't be good for them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooker Posted December 9, 2010 Share Posted December 9, 2010 Mine eat the shredded paper too, I have never used anything else...I'm too tight! the girls dont seem to mind, I change the bedding everyday. I find it quite amusing when they start eating a piece of shredded paper, they eat it like they are eating spaghetti! If I can grab them I stop them, but I can't be there all the time! rachel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KateCooke Posted December 10, 2010 Share Posted December 10, 2010 I discovered my hens eating the saw dust the other day. I have saw dust/wood shavings in teh tray under teh perches, but they still manage to eat it. Surely that is bad for them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doctors girls Posted December 11, 2010 Share Posted December 11, 2010 i have just gave them their weekly clean and no matter what i put in the nesting box hay,shredded paper or wood shavings they always sample it but the first thing they do is peck at it and scatter it all over they just seem to like to vandalise the nesting box then of course they then sleep in it john Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
