Broken Brooder Thermometer

[chickitychickity]

I will start out by saying that my thermometer is not mercury filled. Many people believe all thermometers are.

I have 6 three week old chicks and today they decided to peck at their thermometer. Since they pecked enough, they broke the little glass bulb and red dye went all over the shavings in their brooder. I removed the red dyed shavings. My brooder is outside with very open ventilation, so the fumes could have not been too bad. I have a metal thermometer that is NOT mercury filled - it is alcohol w/ red dye. I have been told that it is not supposed to be dangerous but that would be for humans. The chicks seem to be well and are acting normal.

Can this still hurt my chickens?

 

[Latestarter]

I doubt it will have done them any harm. Most thermometers today no longer use mercury. By now they are old enough that exact measurement of the temp isn't that important anyway. If you're providing a heat source, they'll get as close to it as they need and move away when they don't need it. Couple more weeks and they should be fully fledged and they'll be good to go.