My goats (and dog) are eating chicken poop!?

[spicedoubt]

About a week ago I thought I saw one of my goats chow down a nice nugget of chicken poo and then today I saw one right in front of me swallow down the tasty white part first then went for the log portion. yum!

My dog has been chowing down those suckers for a while now, but there really is much poo he won't eat...

Is this okay? Can my goats get constipated due to the hi amount of corn in the chicken feed? Can my dog get sick?

THanks

 

[Stacykins]

It may be that your goat is lacking something, and trying to make up for it. Do you offer your goats loose minerals free choice? They know to regulate themselves, and lick up minerals as needed. A salt block does not provide them with what they need. They get mostly NaCl and little else from blocks. And if you offer loose minerals AND a block, sometimes they defer to the block, and become deficient as a result.

 

[weaversfarm]

I was thinking the same thing....although my goats aren't in with my chickens, the chickens go into the barn where the goats are and I have never seen my goats eat the chicken poop. My goats get a 16% protein dairy feed, Black Oil Sunflower Seeds topdressed and they have loose goat minerals available to them 24/7. I am thinking it is some sort of vitamin or mineral deficiency. Get a good mineral made for goats and I bet you will see a difference.

 

[spicedoubt]

Thank you for all your help.

I do feed my goats a 16% high energy feed and a mineral block 24/7. I have loose minerals, but I was taught to only use it as a top dressing to their feed on occasion.

I will give it to them free choice right away.

Thank you again for your input.

Mike

 

[Stacykins]

Thank you for all your help.

I do feed my goats a 16% high energy feed and a mineral block 24/7. I have loose minerals, but I was taught to only use it as a top dressing to their feed on occasion.

I will give it to them free choice right away.

Thank you again for your input.

Mike

Hopefully feeding loose minerals free choices sets your goaties on the right track! I find that mine sometimes devour it like they're starving, and other times they'll hardly take a lick. But thankfully they're good at regulating what they need.

 

[weaversfarm]

Are you feeding a mineral that is made for goats? When I first got into goats, I was using a mineral mix for cattle. (the nutritionist at the mill where I buy my feed told me this is what everyone uses for goats and it would be fine.) Because cattle have different requirements than goats, mine got copper deficient so I had to bolus them. I use the Purina Goat mineral now and there is a big difference.