The proper (and likely far more polite) answer would have come from a just slightly more educated on the subject-veterinarian, or doctor, or PhD in dietary science…. even a college chemistry major! None of you who have a crappy attitude toward this question - reeeeally know the answer… It’s obvious by your responses- none of you know how molecules in food break down by our (and chickens) digestive enzymes, then get absorbed one tiny molecule at a time, across the intestinal membrane, into our bloodstream, and then made by the liver or kidney or any organ wanting some carbon- into the various different and extremely specific molecules that we, and chickens need to make. Like blood cells, or bone, or eggshells! If you did… you wouldn’t be so hasty to criticize. Plastic (this one being polystyrene) is made from carbon and hydrogen… and mister- that’s poisonous and I’d never eat that-(, it’s got the same atoms as diamonds, pencils, charcoal on the side of your grilled tofu burger, and organic million grain bread! Those elements in styrofoam have the type of chemical bonds that humans can’t break…. But that doesn’t mean that styrofoam is indigestible to ALL other organisms?! We can’t digest celery for example. Cats can’t digest bread (or any carb). I do know that plastic is actually digestible by some bacteria. Maybe other organisms can digest it too… which is what I was searching for when I found this mean thread! Maybe chickens can get the carbon they need for 20% of their body mass from styrofoam? But that carbon and hydrogen would be put together in a different biologically functional and uggh- not poisonous- way. There is nothing necessarily poisonous about carbon and hydrogen…we need it for 20% of our bodies too! But geez- you sure felt confident enough to make fun of the idea- and make ruthless fun of the poor lady who believed it worked! I’ve had chickens for 15 years- ducks too- and every single chick and adult duck and chicken, peck at the band of styrofoam insulation around my garage. They do it for hours; I don’t stop them either (because I am one of those students)… and it doesn’t cause any problems that I can see. Like I’ve never had a sick bird who died for no reason. Just egg bound and coyote or bear attacks. I know there’s a reason they do this. Little kids who are malnourished eat dirt. SOMEONE MUCH SMARTER than us can explain how (maybe) the carbon and hydrogen from styrofoam is made into … eggs or the cells that make the shell or yolk or albumin- From the looks at the number of google posts about it- It actually might!!?? Or maybe they just like the way it tastes and feels then poop it out, like kids do with gum. I’m going to keep searching for an answer that makes sense. And I’ll keep letting my chickens free range right into my garage!!
