Duck eating charcoal

[Quack head]

Daisy, my older Appleyard has taken a liking to a stump which I burned last year. See goes on her own and eats around the stump. I would say it is something else, but when she drinks the fresh water it turns black. It doesn't seem to affect her, she is still laying three to five eggs a week.

Any thoughts?

 

[johntfs]

Watch her carefully to make sure, but she'll probably be okay.

 

[Jpat]

Daisy, my older Appleyard has taken a liking to a stump which I burned last year. See goes on her own and eats around the stump. I would say it is something else, but when she drinks the fresh water it turns black. It doesn't seem to affect her, she is still laying three to five eggs a week.

Any thoughts?

View attachment 2016937

i bet 20 people a year come on here and mention ducks or chickens digging in ashes or charcoal, its funny but it seams they are after the left over minerals from the burnt wood

Aslong as it wasnt a gasfire, or has any metal or plastic in it they are fine. And they arent filling thenselves on it

Some members even add clean ash to their chickens dust baths

 

[DuckyDonna]

If you suspect your bird has eaten something toxic you give it activated charcoal so I'm thinking its similar and won't hurt them except for the things @Jpat mentioned.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

The previous owners of my house have burnt all vegetation in a 50cm (20") wide strip around the house. Guess who has quackgasms digging through those coals, even after two years have passed by. And yes, they are gulping down little pieces of coal and those come back out after a while at the other end of the duck. So far no negative effects.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I put cold wood ashes out in the dirt when my chicken dust bath have for years without any harm.

 

[threebrookscorner]

We have a fireplace down by the brook and when allowed to free range the ducks are into it almost every day. When I shut down the woodstove to clean pipes and chimney I usually throw a charred log in the duck run and they'll peck away at it off and on.