Foal Is Eating Its Mums Poop

lilyisanangel · 05-10-2008, 12:16 PM

OK IS THIS NORMAL AS I AM NEW TO YOUNG FOALS.BAILIE IS 2 WEEKS OLD TRYING TO EAT THE MARES FEED AND EATING HER POOP!!SHOULD HE BE EATING IT??SHE IS WORMED REG SHE HAS PLENTY OF MILK HE IS ENERGETIC AND STRONG DO I LEAVE HIM TO IT???

gardenmum · 05-10-2008, 12:49 PM

Yes, it is normal so don't worry. Every foal I have ever seen has eaten mom's poo. There are certain bacterias that the foal needs in its gut that it does not have to help digest its food and this bacteria is started by eating mom's poo and taking in the bacteria through her droppings.

lilyisanangel · 05-10-2008, 12:56 PM

thankyou again gardenmum hes gross he eats it then wipes his mouth all over me or my son hes a naughty little fella!

Top Dun · 05-10-2008, 04:10 PM

yes it's normal

Equine Repro · 05-10-2008, 04:16 PM

It's how a foal populates his gut with "good" bacterial flora. So yes, it's completely normal and actually a good thing.

Kathy St.Martin
Equine Reproduction Short Courses
http://www.equine-reproduction.com

lips · 05-11-2008, 08:38 PM

OH! Didn't know that.....learn something new everyday!

Haas Horse Farm · 05-11-2008, 08:54 PM

Yep it is normal and healthy... Gross but healthy... Too weird. HUH... LOL

China515 · 05-11-2008, 09:03 PM

OMG he is so cute!!!! Congrats on him.

05-10-2008, 12:16 PM	#1
lilyisanangel Full Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: lincolnshire Posts: 70 Images: 29	Foal Is Eating Its Mums Poop OK IS THIS NORMAL AS I AM NEW TO YOUNG FOALS.BAILIE IS 2 WEEKS OLD TRYING TO EAT THE MARES FEED AND EATING HER POOP!!SHOULD HE BE EATING IT??SHE IS WORMED REG SHE HAS PLENTY OF MILK HE IS ENERGETIC AND STRONG DO I LEAVE HIM TO IT??? __________________ http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31...l/100_0058.jpg http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31...0_0855boss.jpg

05-10-2008, 12:56 PM	#3
lilyisanangel Full Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: lincolnshire Posts: 70 Images: 29	thankyou again gardenmum hes gross he eats it then wipes his mouth all over me or my son hes a naughty little fella! __________________ http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31...l/100_0058.jpg http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31...0_0855boss.jpg

05-10-2008, 04:10 PM	#4
Top Dun Senior Member+ Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: New Mexico Posts: 5,687 Images: 178 Blog Entries: 1	yes it's normal __________________ Cattle Producers DO NOT want NAIS: When asked if they thought NAIS should be a mandatory system requiring all U.S. cattle producers to participate, 21.22% of respondents said yes, 50.32% said no, and 28.46% were undecided.

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05-10-2008, 12:49 PM	#2
gardenmum Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 401 Images: 103	Yes, it is normal so don't worry. Every foal I have ever seen has eaten mom's poo. There are certain bacterias that the foal needs in its gut that it does not have to help digest its food and this bacteria is started by eating mom's poo and taking in the bacteria through her droppings.

05-10-2008, 04:16 PM	#5
Equine Repro Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Wynnewood, Oklahoma Posts: 574 Images: 16	It's how a foal populates his gut with "good" bacterial flora. So yes, it's completely normal and actually a good thing. Kathy St.Martin Equine Reproduction Short Courses http://www.equine-reproduction.com

05-11-2008, 08:38 PM	#6
lips Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 243 Images: 2	OH! Didn't know that.....learn something new everyday!

05-11-2008, 09:03 PM	#8
China515 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 381 Images: 16	OMG he is so cute!!!! Congrats on him.