[Kym503]

Hi All

I'm currently on holiday in australia and have just watched a programme called 'Better Homes and Gardens'...very popular out here apparently.  They have a resident vet who this week was dealing with a chicken related problem (Obviously at this point I was slightly more interested...had no interest in learning how to cook a turkey on a bbq or make ginger bread Christmas tree decorations!)

As a cure for boredom he was throwing pieces of polystriene into the run for them to eat/peck at and stated....." it does them no harm...goes straight through them..."

I have just watched the clip on line againto check I heard him right and yes - he did say that. (Unfortunately Idon't think posting the link will work overseas).  He seemed to be using the sort of stuff that isused for bedding plants youbuy in B&Q.

Anyone got any thoughts on this practice.....

On another note I hope you are all keeping warm and dealing with the snow ...it was 35 degrees here today (but I'm back home in 10 days!)

Kym

[8doubles]

Sounds like it was a cure for his boredom,are you sure it was not expanded starch which can be used for packing, if not how big does the polystyrene have to be to not go 'straight through'.Are there many vitamins in polystyrene.

Are the vets out there short of work? 

[Kym503]

I kid you not ...he was throwing what looked like the stuff you grow seedlings in into the run adn he did call it polystrene.....they were pecking at it!

Think you're right...Aussie vets need work!   lol

[Pol]

Yes it well go through them because it does'nt break down, surely the polystrene well take room up in the crop that should be for food, hanging greens up in the run is better for them then polystrene

[tiptopchickendon]

It seems to do them no harm...

In the spring we bought (for pennies) a few polystrene boxes, which had been used as Cool Boxes to transport food stuffs, they were the right depth for growing carrots in.

Missus put the box out on a small shelf next to the greenhouse and lo and behold the girls started pecking away at the corner and eating the stuff  and kept going back each day for more.

Thought they would have problems, but nothing happened. Still moved the half eaten box away from them though

Wouldn't mind having a look at the programme, please post the link and i'll try and see if i can get it working

 

[Chookiechook]

I thought I was being clever last winter when it snowed by standing the drinkers on mats made from polystyrene boxes.....

The water didnt freeze, but the hens ate the mats right up to the edge of the drinkers.....

They must have eaten a huge amount in the week that the snow was here... but all of them survived

I also use polystyrene mats for insulating heat mats (like electric chickens) ... Now they are all sealed and covered in sticky back plastic so they are cleanable.... but one little nick in the plastic and the chicks seem to go bananas for the polystyrene beneath!!!  Its like they are demented.... peck, peck, peck till they fall in the hole

[jinty1911]

Mine found some in an area they were digging up (must have left it from summer planting) and ate it around about the same time they ate acrylic window sealant. No harm done though.

Jinty

[orchardlady]

I recon that vet was barking. Just because something doesn't seem to do harm unfortunately there is always the one time it does. Many years ago I ran a small playgroup and was told that we could not use polystyrene packaging bits for the littlies to glue and stick with. The reason was that polystyrene does not show up on X Rays so if a piece is eaten and get's stuck on the rout through it cannot be traced by the doctors trying to help. I think this one is one of those common sense things. I you would not eat it, best not feed to the hens.

[Lindeggs]

What a strange thing to suggest!   

I can understand if hens accidentally get hold of some and peck it to bits, but to deliberately feed it to them seems very odd!

On one occasion I saw it suggested that if a hen was bullying another hen to the point of drawing blood, that you could throw a chunk of polystyrene in there to distract her.  But even at the time I was reading that I thought there are plenty of other things to distract her with! 

How about throwing a nice, white cauliflower in the coop instead.  Or better still hang it up so she has to jump to reach it.  Food and excercise in one go!