Chickens are eating stucco siding on house.

[ZielinskiFarm]

Why would my chickens be eating stucco, and is it going to hurt them? Has anyone else had this issue?

 

[MeepBeep]

My guess is because it's rotten and likely full of bugs...

Is it real stucco or compressed board fake stucco?

Pressed board fake stucco, has toxic preservatives to prevent rot/bug/mold/fungus including but not limited to formaldehyde, not a healthy diet at all...

 

[ZielinskiFarm]

Well that's disconcerting. It's real stucco. It is still hard, and I haven't seen any bugs but will have to check closer. Yuck.

 

[MeepBeep]

If its still hard how are they eating it? I know they will peck hard stuff but pecking what is essentially concrete and eating it is a little strange...

 

[ZielinskiFarm]

Little pieces seem to be breaking off... I can tell because there are grey specks in the paint that weren't there before.

 

[subhanalah]

Maybe they are lacking minerals in their diet?

 

[DoubleMM]

do they need grit?

 

[ZielinskiFarm]

They free range and have access to oyster shell. They also have their own 4x4 sandbox for dustbathing. I feed layer feed and kitchen scraps. It's been super hot lately and the stucco is in the shade so maybe they're just bored and trying to find something to do in the shade? It would be funny if I weren't worried they were getting something unsafe (and damaging my house). They keep waking me up at dawn by pecking on the stucco outside my bedroom.

 

[MeepBeep]

Go out during the day when they are pecking and observe, there might be ants/flies/nats or whatever on the stucco that they are pecking at or even some shadows being cast by something that makes them think there are bugs...

 

[aimeemontana]

Our chickens do the same thing and it is really annoying. There are no bugs but they seem to be addicted to it. It might just feel good on their beaks?