Chickens eating saltpeter

[Altairsky]

Just figured out why my chickens finds so entertaining hanging out in my patio. They eat the saltpeter coming out of my patio's marble slabs.
Anyone had their chickens eat this delicacy?

 

[Debbie292d]

Do you mean the salt used to melt ice? Saltpeter isn't used in marble slabs, at least not here in the States.

Regardless, as you probably already know, that's not good for them, as it's way too much sodium for them. Maybe you could rinse it off?

 

[Altairsky]

If I used the correct term, saltpeter should be that white powdery exudate that comes out of stony construction materials (stones, marble, terracotta, cement) when the soil is humid. It's not exactly salt, it can be other minerals, depends on the type of stone this exudate sprout from.

 

[Molpet]

If I used the correct term, saltpeter should be that white powdery exudate that comes out of stony construction materials (stones, marble, terracotta, cement) when the soil is humid. It's not exactly salt, it can be other minerals, depends on the type of stone this exudate sprout from.

Sodium found in table salt is what is harmful if too much.
The stuff you're looking at is a different mineral, probably calcium or potassium.
I don't have an answer but think it's ok.

 

[Altairsky]

It's always entertaining to see chickens forage the weirdest things, licking salt out of stones like goats.
This is what saltpeter looks like: