Chickens eating urates

[JanvierUK]

I've got a RIR who has this weird habit of pecking the white cap off dried poop and eating it. I'm very much "honey, that's gross", but how dangerous is it? I thought she might be mistaking the white for calcium or chalk, but she's not touching the oyster shell in the run soooo...

Yeah. Is this common? Has anyone else seen one of their girls do this?

 

[Debbie292d]

I've never seen grown chickens eating poop before. On a good point, she's probably the most coccidiosis-resistant chicken you own.

You could try upping the protein and see if that helps. Since you have oyster shell out for them, you could try a higher protein all-flock, like 20%. Also, is there dirt/grit in their run?