Heavy metal poisoning - help!

[colette peters]

im new to raising chickens, We got 6 1 year old egg laying hens and thought my backyard was the perfect raising playground for my ladies. But a month into raising on our property, I noticed my silkie was acting funny and started sleeping on the bottom of the coop in the the corner. Then in the am to let them out, I noticed she didn't move to the perch and remained sitting while all the other 5 hens went out to roam. Day three she still stayed in the coop all day. I'd let her out and she got all perky and excited drank water and ate a bit, but within 10 min she went back in to her corner inside the coop. I called the vet I brought her in and xrayed her... and she had 12 pieces of metal in her. The vet gave me shots to give her once a day for 20 days, to help push the metals out and some powdered food supplement that I give in a syring 5 times a day. She did a poop and yes found a small tiny piece of wire clipping, seems it was working. But I checked her poop religiously and that seemed to be the last I've seen of any pass of metal.
In the mean time my family took a metal magnetic contractors tool to start collecting any metals in the soil. Omg within 15 min we had a ziplock bag full of old nails, screws, and tiny pieces of metal shrapnel. It never stopped. I never thought our backyard was a hazard to our ladies but that is the first thing anyone should check first. Get a metal magnetic tool to grab any loose metal.
But unfortunately I now have thee sick hens and the first one we diagnosed is on week two of treatment and I see zero signs of better health. My vet wants me to bring the other 2 in to X-ray but I feel we know the problem as they are picking up every little piece of small metal. And I can't seem to get rid of it. And I have a feeling I'm soon to have 6 dying chickens. Its just a matter of time. I've spent 500$ on my first sick chicken and I'm not about to do that for 5 more with no light at the end of the tunnel. I feel I need to cull the 3 that don't move or leave the coop but I don't have the heart to kill them, but don't ant them suffering either. Any one have any suggestions or help to guide me??
Also I'm trying my own remedies and research- as I did molasses, kefir, oats, olive oil, active charcoal, and brewers yeast and made a mush. Not much happening- but I've only started that today.I'm so devastated

 

[FrankieDoodle]

Oh no, I'm so sorry
I can't give any information, but maybe someone else can. I hope you find a way to make them better.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

I believe your birds are brooding. Nesting all day to come out once a day to eat and drink then back to nest sounds like brooding. Silkie chickens brood a lot. Search "Broody buster" which will explain to use a wire cage with no bedding in it just food an water. Leave the bird in there for three to four days. Don't allow her to nest. That's the best way to break brooding birds.

 

[Crooked Chicken]

... and she had 12 pieces of metal in her.

In the mean time my family took a metal magnetic contractors tool to start collecting any metals in the soil. Omg within 15 min we had a ziplock bag full of old nails, screws, and tiny pieces of metal shrapnel.

Sorry this happened to your hen. Hopefully she has or will pass all of the metal without getting punctured.

My property was farmed for well over 100 years. I have large trees growing through discarded tractor seat & other parts. There was lots of buried fence wires, nails etc. Way back when people use to burn or bury their garbage or threw them in the outhouse and under buildings.

I also use the magnet roller whenever I have a build or tear-down project. Keep in mind that these things can appear anytime. The soil here heaves things up out of the ground and I'm always on the lookout for things.

 

[colette peters]

@Crooked Chicken Yes that's exactly what's happening on our property. I feel like at some point back in the day something eroded of iron and steel. I have dust like metal collecting on my magnetic tool and it just won't stop. This weekend we are relandscaping in hopes of stopping and covering up the old soil.

 

[Folly's place]

I'd be concerned about eating any eggs produced by these birds! Toxins tend to find their way into egg yolks forever. You might want to find out what their lead levels are, for example. Testing for metals isn't cheap, but eating eggs from questionable sources isn't a good idea either. So sorry for your hens! Mary

 

[Folly's place]

We also have a big magnet, and find 'treasures' every time we run it around, especially around the older buildings. Mary

 

[colette peters]

I'd be concerned about eating any eggs produced by these birds! Toxins tend to find their way into egg yolks forever. You might want to find out what their lead levels are, for example. Testing for metals isn't cheap, but eating eggs from questionable sources isn't a good idea either. So sorry for your hens! Mary

We also have a big magnet, and find 'treasures' every time we run it around, especially around the older buildings. Mary

@Folly's place i agree. It kills me but I feel I need to withdraw all my eggs as all 6 are probably eating the same metals. Thanks for posting

 

[colette peters]

I believe your birds are brooding. Nesting all day to come out once a day to eat and drink then back to nest sounds like brooding. Silkie chickens brood a lot. Search "Broody buster" which will explain to use a wire cage with no bedding in it just food an water. Leave the bird in there for three to four days. Don't allow her to nest. That's the best way to break brooding birds.

@Egghead_Jr . I thought about that and took out the wooden eggs as she hogged them. And that didn't help but I did take her to the vet and her X-ray came back positive for 12 small pieces of metal. But silkie number 2 and my Bantom maybe?! But my magnetic tools has me believing they are all getting metal poisoning. When the are broody would their feathers puff when you get near them in the coop and I feel when I do force them out their feathers remain puffy.

 

[colette peters]

@Egghead_Jr . I thought about that and took out the wooden eggs as she hogged them. And that didn't help but I did take her to the vet and her X-ray came back positive for 12 small pieces of metal. But silkie number 2 and my Bantom maybe?! But my magnetic tools has me believing they are all getting metal poisoning. When the are broody would their feathers puff when you get near them in the coop and I feel when I do force them out their feathers remain puffy.

@Egghead_Jr to clarify - I have to make them come out. They do not willing do it on their own. When they are forced out- it last no more than 5/10 min