Why are they eating their poo?

[futurefarmer08]

Hello,
I provide a clean brooding box, food, clean water, wood shavings on 1/2 with newspaper and papertowels over the newspaper. Treats, grit. WHY DO THEY PECK AT & EAT THEIR POO?

I tried having a talk with them and telling them that is unacceptable!!(ha ha) Thier poo is dried and you would think that there were much better things to peck at and eat. Maybe they are curious and just investigating?

Do yours do that too?

 

[crazyhen]

It helps them establish the bacteria in their gut for digestion. Yuck! they know what they are doing but it is gross. Jean

 

[futurefarmer08]

Hmmnn ok!

I get it but yeah. YUCK! Thanks for the info!!

 

[cmom]

This may be a stupid question but, do they have 24/7 access to their feed?