[sammyjoe]

Have spotted my 8 chickens eating wood shavings which i use to cover the coop floor.Surely this cant be good for them so what would be the best thing for me to use that they wont eat.
Thanks
Sam   

[Roughlee Handled]

Hello and welcome to the mad house
How much of the shavings are they eating?
I have day old chicks that like shavings and seem to eat them and they are now 6 weeks old and no problems with them.
Unless they are eating handfuls I would not worry.

[cathangirl]

Mine have a peck or two and no apparent probs so far.
Welcome to the Forums.
cathangirl

[sammyjoe]

They must be eating enough of it because their poo has loads in it and their crops seem sometimes full before ive fed them . worried about them getting compacted crop

[Roughlee Handled]

I think I know what the problem is.
They are hungry and eating something.
With my chickens they have access to food all the time. I just top it up when needed. Do not worry about them getting fat if you are feeding them on layers mash or pellets.

[Roughlee Handled]

How long are they let out side of the coop for each day?

[sammyjoe]

They are let out of the coop from 7.30 at morning till they decide to go bed.Somedays they are in the run and others they are let into the garden. Could it be that they are sometimes confined to the run and not the garden.

[Chuckles]

Mine eat them too (so does the guinea pig???) not so much that it's in their poop though and so far it's not done them any harm (I hope!).  They have access to their feed at all times and theres usually greens hung up too!

Just thought it must be tasty stuff!!!! 

[Roughlee Handled]

Could it be that they are sometimes confined to the run and not the garden.

Depends on how big your run is.  

But you mentioned

........... and their crops seem sometimes full before ive fed them.

Do you leave food in feeder for them through out the day?