Do chickens know what they can and cannot eat?

[CNJ]

I fed them some year old oat grain that has been sterilized and inoculated with mushroom culture and they ate it. It smelled like it was fermented. I hope they don't get sick.

 

[sylviethecochin]

No, they don't know what they can and cannot eat. If it's poisonous, it's usually not tasty. If something made them sick, they probably won't eat it again.

For what it's worth, that doesn't sound like it's going to hurt them. If they start showing signs of being poisoned, charcoal can help neutralise the toxin.

 

[KingD]

Mine were having a go at eating a dropped facemask today. So to answer your question, no they don't know whats not good to eat.

 

[CNJ]

No, they don't know what they can and cannot eat. If it's poisonous, it's usually not tasty. If something made them sick, they probably won't eat it again.

For what it's worth, that doesn't sound like it's going to hurt them. If they start showing signs of being poisoned, charcoal can help neutralise the toxin.

 

[CNJ]

Mine were having a go at eating a dropped facemask today. So to answer your question, no they don't know whats not good to eat.

They will get COVID-19 from eating the mask.......

 

[KingD]

They will get COVID-19 from eating the mask.......

Quite possibly

 

[BigBlueHen53]

They love styrofoam. Don't leave an ice chest where they can get to it if you hope to use it again! On the other hand, we have a vigorous stand of lilies in their run, which are toxic to them, and they don't eat them at all. They do cultivate around the roots hunting bugs, shelter in their shade, and fertilize them with their poo. Both lilies and chickens are very happy with the arrangement!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

They will get COVID-19 from eating the mask.......

More likely to get an impacted crop, I'd think.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

I find that with natural things...plants, veggies, fruit, grains....they do a pretty good job of eating what's good for them and leaving what's not.

Man-made, unnatural things like styrofoam, masks, chemicals, etc...certainly not.

I'll caveat the above with my observations are based on situations of plenty...if offered a large mix of things, chickens will avoid the things that are not good for them. If ALL that is available to them is something that isn't good for them, they may well eat it.

 

[CNJ]

Update, they didn't die yet, and they won't eat the left over mushroom grain, so I guess their system told them not to eat it anymore................