Chickens may have eaten moldy feed! Help!

[PoultryGirly]

Hi. A few days ago I noticed that my bag of layer pellets for my chickens and ducks had some gunk and mold growing it. I was going to throw it out but never got the chance. Today, I looked in the bag again and knew I should throw it out. It wasn't VERY moldy, but had some green mold in places. It also was all chunked up. I just found out that they MAY have been fed this feed by another family member. They were NOT fed this feed yesterday, for sure, because I fed them myself. They aren't showing symptoms of anything. Will they be okay? They now have fresh feed.

 

[Chick Charm]

They'll be alright. By nature they will not eat moldy food unless its the last thing available. I wouldn't worry. Moldy food has been fed to chickens by some of us before.

 

[PoultryGirly]

Thank you so much! And if they ate the molded food, it would have been mixed in with scratch.

 

[snowflake]

look for poopy buts, mine got some moldy scratch this spring and I noticed some real messy butts, extra garlic in the water and some probiotics helped clear it up

and of course get rid of the moldy food, I to forgot to take care of it as soon as I noticed it and the grandaughters came over and did what they LOVE to do, feed the chickens.

 

[Imp]

Moldy food can cause botulism poisoning, which can kill birds.
If your feed is getting wet/damp or being stored for a long time; you might want to look at your storage practices.
I'm glad your chickens are OK, and that you got rid of the bad feed.
If chickens get sick from botulism, both Epsom Salts and/or molasses can be used to flush their systems of the toxins.

Imp

 

[PoultryGirly]

Thanks. We think that the floor got wet where the bag of food was and it soaked into the bag. The food is now in a metal tub. After eating the moldy feed, how long would it be until we knew they would or if they would be okay?

 

[snowflake]

becarful of the metal container Backyard Poultry mag. had an article this month, that claimed plastic is better as metal tends to sweat more from the heat.
I have switched to plastic but will save the metal for winter as mice will chew through the plastic.I use the metal to store the feed pans over night to keep them from atracting coons

 

[Chick Charm]

Poultry Girly you would have seen them get sick within the time frame "since you posted this thread." They are all right. Taking good care of your chickens as you have been doing is the best key for overall health. One mistaken session of feeding moldy food is overcome by the good care you regularly give your chickens. No worries.

Wish ya the best.

 

[starlightsmom]

What would be the dosage of Epson salts or molasses?

 

[Imp]

What would be the dosage of Epson salts or molasses?

LAXATIVE SOLUTIONS
The following solutions or mixtures are recommended to flush the digestive system of toxic substances, most notably for treating birds exposed to botulism toxins.
Molasses Solution

Add one pint of molasses to 5 gallons of water​

Offer the drinking solution free-choice to the affected birds for about four hours. Treat severely affected birds individually if they cannot drink. Return the birds to regular water after the treatment period.
As a supportive treatment for symptoms resulting from Cryptosporidia infection, often referred to as coronaviral enteritis, use:

One quart molasses in 20 gallons of water​

Offer this solution free-choice for a period of up to 7-10 days. It is assumed that the molasses replaces certain minerals lost from diarrhea during the course of the infection.
Epsom Salt Solution

1 lb Epsom Salt per 15 lb feed
-or-
1 lb Epsom Salt per 5 gallons water for 1 day​

Give the epson salt feed mixture as the sole feed source for a one day period. This feed can be used only if the birds are eating. If the birds are not eating, use the water solution. If the birds are unable to eat or drink by themselves, use individual treatment with:

1 teaspoon of Epsom Salt in 1 fl oz water​

Place the solution in the crop of the affected bird. This same amount of solution will treat 5-8 quail or one chicken.
Castor Oil Therapy

Dose individual birds with .5 oz castor oil.

http://msucares.com/poultry/diseases/solutions.html​