[wolverine]

my girlfriend today told me that that when she cleans out the guinea pigs one of our hens rushes and eats the pellets of poo!!!!!! She thought this was ok I think it's not and was very angry that she was letting it happen almost as a help to clean them out!!!!!
I've told her to not allow it anymore but she says "it's just grass"
I say it's not grass it's poo
can anyone give me some back up that it's not ok? I do sometimes question myself but this time I'm sure she is wrong
blooming woman !!! 

[New shoot]

Hens will eat all sorts of rubbish given half a chance.  There have been threads on here where people have been worried about their hens eating polystyrene, paper, you name it 

I think rabbits do produce two kinds of pooh and do eat the first lot they do to make sure they get maximum nutrition out of it.  Not sure about guinea pigs but even so I wouldn't let hens eat it.  As you say pooh is pooh and there may be nasties in there and how do you know they are not finding their way into your eggs - yuck 

[Lindeggs]

I've been reading a lot about Joel Salatin and the pastured poultry systems on his farm.  He has cattle go over an area of pasture, then puts chickens on the same area to go through the cow pats, spread them around and eat any undigested grain or grass and any insect eggs.

I think the problem with chickens eating poo is simply the 'yuck' factor.  Chickens eat all kinds of things I wouldn't want to eat - slugs, maggots, etc.  They don't find their way into your eggs.

The only time I would try to prevent chickens eating poo is if it's likely to contain pathogens that would make the chickens sick.  So for example I wouldn't let them eat the poo of other birds, or of any sick animal.

But I'm with the girlfriend on this one, Wolverine.  Let the chickens fill their boots! 

[witchwoopiggy]

Guinea Pigs do produce two kinds of pooh and do eat the first lot they do to make sure they get maximum nutrition out of it. 

[billathome65]

If they didn't like it they wouldn't eat it that's my thoughts. As I'm assuming the Guinea pigs are eating stuff your GF is feeding them and maybe grass,  I don't see any big risk of dangerous pathogens being past on to the chucks If they are happy then why spoil it.   

Sorry I'm with the GF too on this one too.

Bill