My foal is cramming fresh droppings into her mouth????

[pinkcatkin]

Have thought recently when poo picking that my foal played with my mare's droppings as some of them are scattered and flattened. However, was sitting watching them last night and when my mare deposited a dropping my foal went straight up it, opened her mouth wide and then pushed down hard onto the ground, cramming the dung into her mouth. She then picked up some dung and then dropped it. She repeated this several times.

It is almost as if she is sucking it!

Anybody else experienced this and is it normal?

 

[JanetGeorge]

Yep - it's absolutely normal for foals to eat Mum's poo - you see it from the first day for the first few months. It's how they get their gut inhabited with the helpful bacteria that aid digestion of solid food

 

[Daisy11]

ditto above leo does it
gross isnt it

 

[Spyda]

Yes, it's normal when they're still very young. At JanetGeorge has said, it helps introduce good digestive bacteria into foalies gut. Best not to watch!!!!

 

[juliehannah58]

Just make sure she doesn't do what Indie likes to do, give you a great big kiss afterwards!! Mmm, lovely!

 

[PapaFrita]

Isn't it nice that they help you poo pick?

LOL!

 

[pinkcatkin]

Actually, she tries very hard to help with poo picking, such as rubbing her head on the wheelie, nearly knocking it over and doing grandmother's footsteps up behind me which makes me jump so much the forkful I am about to hoist into the wheelie goes flying all over the place!!!!

 

[Daisy11]

dont we just love our foals

 

[southsidestud]

mine does it too literally waits until mum has just done it and has a steaming fresh hot dinner ! eughh

 

[Daisy11]

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mine does it too literally waits until mum has just done it and has a steaming fresh hot dinner ! eughh

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yuk nice