Chickens eating styrofoam

[kirschj]

I have noticed that my chickens have eaten a very large quantity of Styrofoam that I used as insulation over the summer. I had noticed them eating it in the past when I had some sitting in the yard and moved it away, but they found it and pecked at it. I assume they are eating it, but can' tell for sure. However, the foam insulation I used seems to have been pecked at all winter and no trace of the little pieces remain so I'm pretty convinced they've been eating it.

They are quite healthy. Coats are nice, no diseases, no deaths despite all of this styrofoam ingestion. Egg laying is excellent with no issues. Has anyone else experienced this? I can't imagine that it is good for them (or us!), but it clearly hasn't hurt them. It could get caught if there is enough of it in their digestive system, but hasn't happened.

Would love to know if others have experienced this or know any more about risks. I won't let them do it anymore, obviously!

 

[chicksandchores]

My chickens seem to find every single styrofoam cup we’ve ever had anywhere on the premesis and proceed to eat every last bite of it! I can shoo them away, remove it to the burn pile we have, and turn my back for three seconds and they’re back at it again! My rooster even calls the ladies over for a treat when he finds it! I don’t have a clue as to why, so I’m following this!

 

[danceswithronin]

I was worried about my chicks accidentally ingesting bits of perlite in the soil while ranging in the vegetable garden, I'm a little less worried now that I am reading about your chickens eating styrofoam cups and insulation with no ill effects...

 

[BarredRockMom]

My chickens took a liking to their pink, styrofoam insulation. Idjits! I put up inside-out feed bags over it to stop 'em. They pulled 'em off & kept chowing down. Crafty idjits. I fixed their fluffy egg butts & affixed the feed bags with duct tape. I used a pretty pattern to give them something interesting to look at.
(If they could read, I would have printed "I SAID STOP IT!!" on plain tape!)

I never had any ill effects from their culinary experiment with insulation, so far as I can tell.
Other than them giving me what for about not being able to outsmart the tape. Sassy idjits!

 

[BarredRockMom]

I guess you could stop using styrofoam cups, containers, etc and outsmart 'em that way...

I don't get the fascination. It has no taste!