Chicken drank paint!!! Will she be okay??

[Barnette]

We're building and painting a second chicken coop, and my flock was free-ranging in the yard. We left the tools out, including an open paint can, and went inside for a minute. When we came out, my hen Summer has a bit of drying blue paint on her beak and in her throat. I panicked and got her to drink some water but now I don't know what to do!! Will she be okay? I'm not sure how much paint Summer ingested. The brand is Valspar: SeasonFlex™ if that helps. Also, I considered an oral flush but her crop seems too full of food for that.

 

[GlicksChicks]

Here is a link to someone who had a dog eat that paint. Expect some odd droppings. Keep her well hydrated.

 

[SourRoses]

Is it a Latex paint? Acrylic? What else does it say on the label?

 

[SourRoses]

From the Poison Control website:

• Latex or acrylic latex paints use water as the primary liquid, though solvents may be present too.
• Oil-based paints contain mineral oil as the primary liquid.
• Solvent-based paints may use any number of volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) as the liquid. Common VOCs include toluene, xylene, ethanol, and acetone, among many others.

Other ingredients vary with the type of paint; for example, some paints may contain an ingredient to prevent mold.

Latex paint is used most often because it dries quickly and can be cleaned up with soap and water. Liquid latex paint can be mildly irritating to the skin and mouth. If swallowed, it can cause an upset stomach or even vomiting. Swallowing latex paint does not poison the body, though. Dry pieces of latex paint are not poisonous to swallow - but they can be a risk for choking.

Oil-based paints also can irritate the skin. They can cause stomach upset if swallowed. There is a bigger problem, though: if someone swallows oil-based paint, and chokes on it, paint can get into the lungs. Mineral oil in the lungs can cause trouble breathing and pneumonia. This isn't a common problem with paint, though; paint is thick and children rarely swallow much.

Even though fumes from latex and oil paints can irritate the eyes, nose and throat, they do not poison the body when used as directed. Any irritation should go away once you get into fresh air. If fresh air doesn't help, take a warm shower and wash your hair.

Solvent-based paints can be more irritating than latex or oil-based paints on the skin or if swallowed. But the biggest concern is with inhaling the fumes into the lungs. Breathing solvent paint fumes for too long can cause headaches, dizziness, and nausea.

 

[Barnette]

From the Poison Control website:

• Latex or acrylic latex paints use water as the primary liquid, though solvents may be present too.
• Oil-based paints contain mineral oil as the primary liquid.
• Solvent-based paints may use any number of volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) as the liquid. Common VOCs include toluene, xylene, ethanol, and acetone, among many others.

Other ingredients vary with the type of paint; for example, some paints may contain an ingredient to prevent mold.

Latex paint is used most often because it dries quickly and can be cleaned up with soap and water. Liquid latex paint can be mildly irritating to the skin and mouth. If swallowed, it can cause an upset stomach or even vomiting. Swallowing latex paint does not poison the body, though. Dry pieces of latex paint are not poisonous to swallow - but they can be a risk for choking.

Oil-based paints also can irritate the skin. They can cause stomach upset if swallowed. There is a bigger problem, though: if someone swallows oil-based paint, and chokes on it, paint can get into the lungs. Mineral oil in the lungs can cause trouble breathing and pneumonia. This isn't a common problem with paint, though; paint is thick and children rarely swallow much.

Even though fumes from latex and oil paints can irritate the eyes, nose and throat, they do not poison the body when used as directed. Any irritation should go away once you get into fresh air. If fresh air doesn't help, take a warm shower and wash your hair.

Solvent-based paints can be more irritating than latex or oil-based paints on the skin or if swallowed. But the biggest concern is with inhaling the fumes into the lungs. Breathing solvent paint fumes for too long can cause headaches, dizziness, and nausea.

Okay, thank you so much!! It was just latex paint so it sounds like summer will be fine. I felt so irresponsible and mad at myself, but thank you for soothing my worries! Do you have any tips for keeping Summer hydrated? Should I force her to drink water or just leave the regular water containers out and hope she drinks enough? Thanks again!

 

[SourRoses]

It's an acrylic paint, according to Valspar.
I would pour her a small cup of milk. Don't force it.
*Milk is usually recommended to neutralize the PH of something caustic, but that's not needed here.
My reason is that they really like milk (mine do) and drinking fluids is recommended with paint to make sure the throat is clear so they don't inhale any lingering particles.


So after some research it seems that the biggest concern is the anti-mildew agent in your particular type of paint.

The Safety Data sheets list different ingredients:

The Semi Gloss Ultra White has Titanium Dioxide and Cristobalite (respirable powder).

The Flat Ultra White has Titanium Dioxide, Cristobalite (respirable powder), and 2-Ethyl-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol

The Satin Ultra White has Titanium Dioxide and 2-Ethyl-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol


Click on "SDS" next to your paint: Valspar - SeasonFlex

 

[Barnette]

Thanks so much! Still trying to figure out which paint I'm using (this is my dad's area of expertise and he's not being very helpful so...). What should I do if Summer did ingest one of those ant-mildew agents?