Like many of their other curious behaviours, there are several reasons why you might catch Fido with a mouthful of chicken poop: it’s an instinct, they may enjoy the taste, they saw another doggo do it, a nutrient deficiency, they’re trying to get your attention, they’re feeling anxious or bored.
Coprophagia is the act of eating poop, and wild canids are scavenger animals, so they will happily devour many things that they find on the ground.
Read on for more information about why doggos eat chicken poop and how to end the unsavoury habit.
It’s An Instinct
Canine ancestors destroyed evidence of their presence by hiding or eating poop. In addition to consuming their own, pups will eat any poop in the vicinity to hide evidence of anyone being in the area.
Because It’s Delicious
Unfortunately, our poochies find some repugnant tastes yummy. They also can’t help themselves once they’ve tried it. After the initial consumption of chicken poop, they’ll want it all the time.
Doggy See, Doggy Do
Your fur baby may have never given chicken poop a thought, until one day he witnessed another pooch eating some. That may have made him curious, he ate some, and an addiction was formed.
They Have A Nutrition Deficiency
When a dog doesn’t have enough vitamin B1, potassium or protein, she may supplement her diet with excrement. Make sure your girl eats a healthy brand of food.
They’re Trying To Get Your Attention
Many behaviours can be traced back to dogs seeking their human’s attention. You’re busy working and doing everything else, but Rover wants quality time with you. Whenever you can squeeze in 10 or 15 minutes (or more), take him on a walk or play with him. On the weekend, bring him to the park or dog park. Interactive toys are helpful when you can’t be home. There are many varieties of products to amuse your pupper.
If you witness your fur baby eating chicken excrement, try not to react strongly. Negative attention is still attention.
They’re Feeling Anxious
Our sensitive poochies may be anxious from the day they move in or might become anxious due to something happening in or near their home. The best way to help your doggo to be calm and well-adjusted is by engaging in lots of play sessions, walking him, taking him out so he can meet new people and dogs, keeping fun toys in the house and giving him attention. Busy pups are usually happy pups.
If Spot seems especially nervous most of the time, you could ask your vet for his opinion. He may offer him a prescription drug to balance out his brain chemistry if necessary. Many humans report that their anxious dogs respond well to CBD oil and essential oils.
They’re Bored
Being bored can make good dogs do not-so-good things. That’s why the aforementioned ways of stimulating your fur baby are so important.
You may not be able to spend all of your time with her, but try to exercise her, give her some love, take her out on fun journeys on weekends and play fetch or tug–even if the only time you have to interact is when you’re watching the telly. She’ll be satisfied with her active life; she’ll know that you love her, and maybe she’ll resist eating that repulsive chicken poop.
Is Chicken Poop Bad For Dogs?
The poop itself isn’t the problem; it’s any viruses, parasites or toxins that may be in the poop.
The Poop Eater Profile
Your dog may be more likely to eat chicken poop if they:
- Steal food from the table
- Live in a multi-dog home
- Are female ( intact males are least likely)
- Are kept alone in a kennel
- Are fed near their own poop (commingling scents)
A large number of dogs don’t eat their own poop but eat others’ excrement.
How To Keep Your Dog From Eating Chicken Poop
Environmental measures like putting high fencing around the chicken area and cleaning up the chicken poop are practical fixes. There are a few other methods.
Give Your Pup Enzymes
Enzyme supplements help them digest their food because their diet has more carbs and fewer proteins and fat than their ancestors consumed in the wild.
Multivitamins
Make sure she’s getting all her nutrients, including Vitamin B, which is suspected to be the vitamin dogs lack when they gobble up bowel movements.
Taste-Aversion Products
Add a taste-aversion product to your pup’s food. These contain a touch of garlic, parsley, yucca, pepper-plant, monosodium glutamate and chamomile. The supplement makes poop taste bad (as if it needs to be doctored up to taste horrific!).
Some pet guardians use Bitter Apple spray to prevent pups from nibbling on sofas and other household objects. The bitter spray can also be used on chicken poop so it tastes repulsive to your pooch.
Train Your Pooch The “Leave It” Command
Put your fur baby on a leash so you can pull it to correct her behaviour. Pull her gently away from the chicken poop and say, “leave it.” Reward her with a treat and shower her with love when she obeys the leave it command.
Conclusion
If you don’t own chickens or have chicken neighbours, you may not know that certain canines love to eat chicken poop. Some reasons why they find it irresistible include that it’s an instinct, they enjoy the taste, they saw another doggo do it, a nutrient deficiency, they’re trying to get your attention or are bored.
Although chicken poop isn’t a health hazard, it may have parasites, toxins or viruses in it.
Solutions include giving your pooch lots of attention, feeding them supplements, cleaning chicken areas frequently, giving your fur baby enzymes/vitamins/taste-aversion products and covering chicken poop with bitter apple spray.
