My styrofoam eating girls

[donrae]

I don't know what it is about the stuff, but I agree it's like crack for them. But never seems to hurt them, amazingly enough. We've always eaten the eggs after they've eaten Styrofoam also with no problems.

 

[Folly's place]

It's like that old saying "Why did the chicken cross the road?" I have no idea! Mary

 

[mortie]

Mine are dedicated styrofoam eaters, as well. Like a previous poster said, they dug around the house and found the foam insulation around the foundation and ATE IT ALL. I'm sure it's not great for them, but it hasn't seemed to have done any real harm either.

 

[aldarita]

My girls are just a month old. I have oyster shell but have not given it to them yet. I am wondering if maybe I should. Maybe they are needing something that they are not getting in their chick starter. Any ideas?

Please don't give your one month old girls any oyster shells, it will hurt their kidneys, wait until POL. I think they just like the taste of styrofoam (it must taste good to them) mine ate the insolation I had in their coop ceiling, I didn't see it happening until I saw the big holes they have made. I didn't think they could reach the ceiling from their roosting box, but they did.

 

[Annasg]

Thank you so much. I will not give them oyster shell until they start laying. I wasn't sure what to do about this but I thank you for your input/ I know they are too young, like a baby, for many things, I was just unsure what to do about their diet. I have them on medicated chick starter. Will keep them on this until they start laying.

 

[Jesusfreak101]

Plastic of any kind seems to be a problem i think they know some things to avoid (natural things at least some of my hens do) but plastic seems to cause problems with all animals. We had a rabbits water out there with them they started eating it

i caught them yesterday to say the least they anything like that got removed old waters get removed.

 

[Mini Meat]

I think chickens eat styrofoam because it is made of the same stuff as their brains and they think it will make them smarter.!!!