Question about Chickens eating Styrofoam

[PeckingOrder7]

Hello! I'm very new to raising chickens, I have a question about Styrofoam.

Alright so, in short - my neighbor built a brand new Styrofoam insulated house, and from time to time when there's wind or a storm little particles of styrofoam end up all over my yard. I've noticed that my chickens, for some reason, really love that stuff and go out of their way to find it and eat it.

This concerns me quite a bit since styrofoam is a type of plastic, and I'm worried if it's going to hurt them, but I haven't noticed any symptoms yet.

Will eating it hurt them or affect their egg & meat quality?

 

[Squawkers]

Hello! I'm very new to raising chickens, I have a question about Styrofoam.

Alright so, in short - my neighbor built a brand new Styrofoam insulated house, and from time to time when there's wind or a storm little particles of styrofoam end up all over my yard. I've noticed that my chickens, for some reason, really love that stuff and go out of their way to find it and eat it.

This concerns me quite a bit since styrofoam is a type of plastic, and I'm worried if it's going to hurt them, but I haven't noticed any symptoms yet.

Will eating it hurt them or affect their egg & meat quality?

Welcome to chickens I think most people have discovered chicken’s love for styrofoam. Mine ate an entire styrofoam ice chest I’m sure it’s not good for them, but they seemed completely fine after. I’m not really sure about the affect of it one eggs or meat, but maybe somebody else does!

 

[alinas2010]

Welcome to the site! There are stories of it impacting their crops, so be vigilant and try to not let them eat it. With that being said, I’ve also seen mine eat particles of it and haven’t had issues. Many don’t see issues, but be aware that is not always the case. It’s not a good idea to let them eat it just as you or I wouldn’t eat it. Idk why they love it so much, but they sure do!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Same. We left a styro cooler outside and noticed it was gradually disappearing. Did not know why until we caught the chickens tearing it up and happily eating it! Moved it immediately. No ill effects that we could see.

 

[Poultry Showman]

I think a good fact to tell someone when they ask what my favorite part of chickens is is the fact that they like eating styrofoam! I mean what chicken or little kid doesn't think the stuff is the coolest?

 

[alinas2010]

Same. We left a styro cooler outside and noticed it was gradually disappearing. Did not know why until we caught the chickens tearing it up and happily eating it! Moved it immediately. No ill effects that we could see.

Similar thing here but not quite the same material. We had one of those fatigue mats I didn’t use anymore (it was old and rather thin) covering the dirt bath bucket in the chicken run when it stormed or snowed. I thought it’d work great until I started to see little chunks missing. The girls were eating it. Apparently something about that spongy texture is appealing, too.

 

[PeckingOrder7]

Thanks y'all, looks like I gotta talk to my neighbors but I don't know how we'd prevent the styrofoam from their walls flying everywhere. Kinda annoying cuz we're not on best terms...

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Thanks y'all, looks like I gotta talk to my neighbors but I don't know how we'd prevent the styrofoam from their walls flying everywhere. Kinda annoying cuz we're not on best terms...

Take them some eggs ...