[Ben_H]

Hi,

The chooks have unearthed some old charcoal in their run and judging by the blackness of poo have been tucking into it. (I panicked for a while until I realised the cause!)

Two questions - is it bad for them and does it indicate a lack of something in the diet if they seem keen on it?

[joyfull]

eating charcoal isn't bad for them but does have the side effect that you have noticed. However it may be being eaten because they have eaten something else that doesn't agree with them - what plants and shrubs/trees do they have access to? They could be self medicating as it helps get rid of toxins.

[Lewjam]

If they have had access to it for ages and have suddenly started eating it, it may be the self mdeicatio, however if they just dug it up, it may just be spontanious "is that food nom nom nommimg".

[Ben_H]

I think it's just been dug up.

With regard to plants they might be eating they have pretty much stripped their run of greenery. They're eating leaves fro the hedge (hawthorn, hazel, dogwood) and I'm giving them dandelion and various brassica leaves daily in rotation. Very small amounts of grass too, none of which I think is contentious.

Hopefully just the discovery of something new. Bizarrely it makes poo picking easier as black poo stands out better against the background.

Cheers

Ben

[Raven81]

My hens got into the barbecue.  Like you, I wondered what was wrong until I realised.  I know mine just peck anything and everything (including the dog) so like you, I assume it was just something new to peck and doesn't seem to have done them any harm.