Any Advice on Chickens eating lead based paint?

[jaerome1]

My chickens have been eating the paint chips off of the house. Which was built in the early 50's. I'm pretty sure the old lead based paint wasn't removed just painted over. What does that mean for the chickens? or for the eggs they lay for that matter?

 

[Eggcessive]

You may want to keep them away from your house with fencing. Lead poisoning can cause neurological symptoms eventually. It can enter the bloodstream and leave a small residue in the eggs. Here is some info about lead poisoning in chickens:
http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/lead-poisoning
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smar...bout-lead-in-backyard-chicken-eggs-180948157/

 

[lazy gardener]

Agreed, lead paint is toxic to you, to your chickens, and may possibly be uptaken by any plants grown in the area.

 

[Fishkeeper]

Get them away from the paint, keep them away from the paint, keep everything living away from the paint. Temporarily put them in dog crates if that's what it takes, but get them away.

 

[wyogirlz]

Any thoughts on deficiencies in the chickens diets if they eat paint? Mine are doing the same thing....I tried giving them oyster shell calcium and they were not up for it, green paint tastes better

 

[Fishkeeper]

You need to make them stop doing that before it poisons them and you. Put the chickens in cages until you can block off or deal with the paint if that's what it takes, but keep them away from it.

 

[jaerome1]

You may want to keep them away from your house with fencing. Lead poisoning can cause neurological symptoms eventually. It can enter the bloodstream and leave a small residue in the eggs. Here is some info about lead poisoning in chickens:
http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/lead-poisoning
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smar...bout-lead-in-backyard-chicken-eggs-180948157/

Yes I have done what I can to keep them out of it! I go away on Contracts a lot sorry for taking so long to respond. They're mainly my daughter's chickens she loves them. But Since they already ate the chips what does that mean?

 

[jaerome1]

You need to make them stop doing that before it poisons them and you. Put the chickens in cages until you can block off or deal with the paint if that's what it takes, but keep them away from it.

This is actually what I had done and had my kids do since I've been away. But my main concern is what does it mean for the chickens since they already ate the paint chips? I know they can eat Black widows, and other poisonous stuff and be okay. They had caught a rattle snake and played tug of war with it before killing it and eating it! I found a veterinary clinic where I live who'd see them. But the Vet said that even if they ingest lead they'd be okay! And so would be the eggs. Since it doesn't enter the blood stream. This answer didn't really sit well with me! So I have just been disposing of the eggs. Is there a way to maybe test the eggs? Or a Veterinarian who can blood test the chickens for Lead Contamination to see if they're okay? Any Suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[jaerome1]

Any thoughts on deficiencies in the chickens diets if they eat paint? Mine are doing the same thing....I tried giving them oyster shell calcium and they were not up for it, green paint tastes better

Yea That's pretty much the answer I got when I went to the vet to ask about my chickens but I don't trust the answer over all I got from the Vet either. But they seem to enjoy anything! I give mine a pecking block, The oyster shells in their food to make sure they're not deficient in calcium. As well as some really strong Nutrient feed. Just to make sure they're not lacking in something. However they are a curious type of animal. I've noticed they like to eat whatever just about LOL. Mine even got a hold of some Styrofoam one time they loved it as well.

 

[jaerome1]

Sorry Been away for a while. But My main question is since I took the chickens to a Vet locally and was told they used to eat lead based paint a long time ago and people turned out okay. And that since they are also able to eat Poisonous stuff they should be okay as well as the eggs. How should I go about getting them checked out further? There are no Vets in this area I live that see Chickens. I haven't been eating the eggs since I am not sure if they're safe to or not. But they've been kept away from the paint. I just don't know if there's a way to test the eggs or the Chickens for lead poisoning.