styrofoam diet

[rabtfarm]

Okay the chickens have started in devouring some foam insulating panels...it doesn't appear to have done any harm...but shouldn't the foam source be removed? There are 9 chickens and they have eaten about 2 cupfuls over the last couple of weeks..
Does anyone know if this can hurt them?

 

[JackE]

They should be OK, but remove the rest, I don't think it's part of their recommended diet. And eating a lot of it can't be good. They don't need it anyway, because they already have perfect insulation of their own.

 

[Kelsie2290]

I think what we think of as regular Styrofoam (polystyrene) is probably pretty harmless, not a good idea to let them eat it since it could cause blockages. But Isocyanates, like what are in some building insulations/foam boards, read as really bad, I wouldn't want the chickens pecking/eating isocyanate foam board.

 

[donrae]

I've had some chickens that have eaten a lot of Styrofoam, and been none the worse for wear that I could tell. It grosses me out, though, and I would prevent them from eating more.