Heavy metal poisoning - help!

[Crooked Chicken]

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

That kind of depends on what kind of metal they ingested. I would not be concerned about iron, for instance.

@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

Don't give up. You might be able to obtain a lead test kit from the hardware store. Maybe mix the poo with a little water and test that for lead. Or ask the vet.

 

[Candace Martini]

What ever happened with your hens? Can we get an update please? Thanks

 

[rebrascora]

It sounds to me like they were broody too. I don't doubt that one or more of them may have ingested some metal but their behaviour is that of a broody. If they had not been describes as being enthusiastic about eating and drinking when they were encouraged/pushed out of the coop I would have accepted they were ill but that 10-15 min break and hogging the fake eggs and strongly indicated broodiness. Broody hens will almost always sit on an empty nest if their eggs are removed, once they are fully committed and there is nothing much more committed than a silkie broody.

It is a shame that the OP did not update this post, but if they were broody, it seems like an expensive and embarrassing mistake albeit a relief no doubt. I hope she did not euthanize the birds without being certain.

 

[Kiki]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...tand-this-report.1310362/page-3#post-21374032

Are these the same birds?

 

[colette peters]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...tand-this-report.1310362/page-3#post-21374032

Are these the same birds?

No those were my silkies and they are happy as can be and I was miss informed, as back then I was so new to raising chickens that I didn’t know what brooding was
the vet was ripping me off and said it was metal poisoning. He charged me 300$ +
I’ve learned so much in 3 years.

 

[Kiki]

No those were my silkies and they are happy as can be and I was miss informed, as back then I was so new to raising chickens that I didn’t know what brooding was
the vet was ripping me off and said it was metal poisoning. He charged me 300$ +
I’ve learned so much in 3 years.

Ok great. Thank you for clarifying.