MANURE MUNCHING - NUTRITION OR BEHAVIOUR?

What are everyone's thoughts on manure munchers? Do you think it is based on something lacking in their diet, or do you think that it's more of a behavioural issue?

I think they are missing something in thier diet, I would feed free coice minerals and some probiotics..

Bay-Lee wrote:

I think they are missing something in thier diet, I would feed free coice minerals and some probiotics..

I agree. They also could be hungry. Do they have hay availabe to them while outside?

I hope everyones feeling better soon.

Quote :

I hope everyones feeling better soon.

I hope so to...........

Any up dates??

We are starting all the critters on probiotics (just waiting for a shipment to come in - nobody sells them locally), plus minerals (Excel by Dynamite). They get lots of hay and fresh water. Reo (the big muncher) was started on the minerals at the beginning of April but it doesn't seem to be doing any good. We tried free choice minerals last summer/fall but they either blow away in the wind or else get too soggy in the damp. All our stalls have mineral blocks and salt blocks.

I'm in search of an effective but ecomonical supply of both probiotics and minerals. What do you guys use?

I've used a loose beef mineral in the past...its not for horses but it didn't seem to hurt them. I also use kelp.

hmm.. i was actually going to post a topic about this..
at the barn where i work, we used to have this gelding who would always eat a certain mare's manure.. every time!! this year, we have noticed probably 5 or 6 of the other mares and geldings also stopping to eat this certain mare's manure as we were walking on the trail... what gets me, is that, they ONLY eat THIS particular mare's manure. they show no intrest in anyone elses... but when this mare makes manure, everyone stops for a bite... this mare gets no other dietary extras than any of the other horses... all 21 of them live together as a herd 24/7... any thoughts as to why they only eat this horse's manure? .. its baffled me forever...