Will chicks eat their own poop ?

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Ridgerunner

Ridgerunner

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On the contrary, chickens eat their own poop. There are a lot of partially digested nutrients there. It’s how they develop flock immunities and share probiotics. That’s part of why chicks raised by a broody hen are normally so healthy. They get probiotics and develop flock immunities by eating her poop.

They also find a lot of nutrients in other animals’ poop. One method for pastured poultry is to follow cattle with chickens. The chickens scratch and scatter the cow patties while getting a lot of good nutrients from it.

Chickens are not human beings. They are not disgusted by the same things we are. They don't eat a lot of their poop, but they will eat some.
 
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Mountain Peeps

Mountain Peeps

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Ridgerunner said:
On the contrary, chickens eat their own poop. There are a lot of partially digested nutrients there. It’s how they develop flock immunities and share probiotics. That’s part of why chicks raised by a broody hen are normally so healthy. They get probiotics and develop flock immunities by eating her poop.

They also find a lot of nutrients in other animals’ poop. One method for pastured poultry is to follow cattle with chickens. The chickens scratch and scatter the cow patties while getting a lot of good nutrients from it.

Chickens are not human beings. They are not disgusted by the same things we are. They don't eat a lot of their poop, but they will eat some.
Click to expand...

Fascinating. I knew some animals like dogs, rabbits, etc, ate poop because of the nutrients contained in them but I've never seen, heard of or known chickens to be the same.

I apologize for my mis-information. I was just going by my personal experience with my own flock. :)
 
Tanya22

Tanya22

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Oct 23, 2018
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Ridgerunner said:
On the contrary, chickens eat their own poop. There are a lot of partially digested nutrients there. It’s how they develop flock immunities and share probiotics. That’s part of why chicks raised by a broody hen are normally so healthy. They get probiotics and develop flock immunities by eating her poop.

They also find a lot of nutrients in other animals’ poop. One method for pastured poultry is to follow cattle with chickens. The chickens scratch and scatter the cow patties while getting a lot of good nutrients from it.

Chickens are not human beings. They are not disgusted by the same things we are. They don't eat a lot of their poop, but they will eat some.
Click to expand...
I just found this thread and i know that it is old but my Brownie (he is a Cockerel) eats a LOT of his own poop! Like me and my sister keep trying to stop him and remove the poop. I am very worried about his health and wondering if it will damage him..
I read your reply but I am still asking in case there are any preventive measures I should take. Also, I am raising him in an apartment.
 
Ridgerunner

Ridgerunner

Crossing the Road
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I've thought about my response in this thread and wish I'd phrased it a bit differently. It's not so much that they eat their own poop as that they are picking bits and pieces out of it. They also eat some just by pecking at the ground or bedding that has poop mixed in with it. Their scratching sometimes makes it look like it has disappeared. Sometimes it looks like they are eating more than they actually do but yes they will eat some.

I don't know how much your cockerel is actually eating and I don't know how he is confined or otherwise fed. as long as he has other food available he should be eating a pretty small amount and it should not hurt him.
 

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