Leicester_H Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 Hi After my 2 ended up looking like drowned rats in the rain recently, I bought some nice UV resistant clear plastic to cover part of their run to give them a nice sheltered area. We fixed it carefully and it looked quite smart. Yesterday, it looked like a fox had tried to tear it on one side. Today the other side was similarly torn. Then I noticed other holes - when I touched these the chickens started pecking them and EATING bits from the edges !! So now I think its the chickens eating the polythene - WHY ???? -They're NOT just pecking insests - they are pecking bits off H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 Because they can? Chickens do tend to eat ANYTHING. Hopefully they will stop when they realise its a silly thing to do - but I would probably remove it if they are eating lots as it could do horrible things to their insides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted May 22, 2007 Author Share Posted May 22, 2007 Update. Just seen them tearing off pieces and fighting over them, so cover has been removed. I told them they'd regret it when it rained but they didn't seem to care !! H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 I had the ubiquitous Ikea shower curtains over mine and the did they same....so if they get wet.....they get wet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted May 22, 2007 Author Share Posted May 22, 2007 (edited) they just don't think ahead - do they !!?? Edited May 22, 2007 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 the chickens started pecking them and EATING bits from the edges !! So now I think its the chickens eating the polythene When the hens laid an egg did it come out in its own ready made polythene bag Ours do the same with the Omlet cover. And the newspaper in the poo tray. And the straw in the nesting box. And anything else they can get their beaks around! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 thye just don't think ahead - do they !!?? That really made me laugh! Forward planning/thinking chickens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted May 22, 2007 Author Share Posted May 22, 2007 my 2 are quite 'cunning' so perhaps its just as well !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 Silly girls! I read on here that someones chicken peeled the silicone from around their windows and ate that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmandaR Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 Silly girls! I read on here that someones chicken peeled the silicone from around their windows and ate that! Mine do that too!! They peck away at the silicone around our back door. At first, we thought they were 'knocking' to get into the kitchen but no, they are determined to take the door apart! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 they are funny little things are they? ours love to rip up newspaper....love it.....ripping into tiny little shreds....good stress reliever they tell me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 Mine are obviously a bit fussy cos I don't get any of these plastic eating shenaniggins - however I do recall someone posting a year or so ago that they got home to find just the corner of the omlet summer shade left and were convinced that their girls had eaten the whole thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 I'm going to post a picture of mine. You won't believe it.....maybe not quite as bad as coming home to find only a corner left though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 Silly girls! I read on here that someones chicken peeled the silicone from around their windows and ate that! Mine do that too!! They peck away at the silicone around our back door. At first, we thought they were 'knocking' to get into the kitchen but no, they are determined to take the door apart! I thought I'd managed to wean my two off the silicone (while all my windows are still in place) then over the weekend we had to clean out our small fountain water feature - I'd forgotton that underneath was a whole wadge of silicone............spent the next 10 minutes chasing chickens round the garden prising bits out of their beaks while CTB fell about laughing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 Here is the original thread about shade eating hens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 I know I shouldn't laugh, but Laura's post in that thread was funny. My new shade arrived today from Omlet. I'm wondering if they chooks might like the little bit that's left of the old deep fried! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted May 24, 2007 Share Posted May 24, 2007 so it's just as well I couldnt find a clear shower curtain then?? so shall I just let them get wet in the future? (wet weekend forecast!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red Posted May 24, 2007 Share Posted May 24, 2007 My hens seem quite happy standing in the rain even when they could be stood under the shelter of their run ... but wind - now that's different ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
