Foals...is this normal?

[Enfys]

This is the first foal that I have had that I have seen doing this...........she eats her dams droppings

Not a whole pile of course, but any fresh ones and she will have three or four good mouthfuls

Is this a normal foal thing please? I've never seen any of the others doing it, that's not to say they didn't of course.
I know in adults it may be a sign of deficiencies etc, but in foals? She is mouthing grass etc, but this isn't just exploratory tasting. Thankyou.

I can't follow them around all day picking up as they go

 

[lucysnapshot]

My foal once did this when he was 6days old i shooed him away and i dont think hes done it since

 

[Irishcobs]

Most do it. They will grow out of it. Not sure why they do it though.

 

[maestro]

Let them do it it helps their bacteria flora develop in their stomach.

 

[Thistle]

[ QUOTE ]
Let them do it it helps their bacteria flora develop in their stomach.

[/ QUOTE ]

was just about to say this. They need the bacteria to break down the grass in their gut.

 

[Stinkbomb]

Yep Inky did it. Disgusting but apparently good for them!

I posted about it a while ago and everyone said it was "normal!"

 

[Enfys]

Thankyou for that everyone. I am reassured.

There we are then. Quite normal.
Now you mention about the gut/bacteria thing I do remember reading it, I must have missed your question about it Stinkbomb.

 

[JACQSZOO]

The YO new foal has been doing it - YO reckons its perfectly normal.

 

[ColouredFan]

yep mine has been doing it every now and again since about a week old, looks horrible but its normal!

 

[amandaco2]

almost all of them do.totally normal.helps populate the gut with flora

 

[_jetset_]

As others have said, yes it's completely normal. It is a good way for them to sort out the bacteria in their little guts. Troy did it for the first month I would say and then just stopped all of a sudden.