OK! So, it started with a 1-year-old chicken laying eggs with no shells or soft shells. I am an RVT, so I brought her to my clinic and took 2 rads (below) on 3/29, not really knowing what I might find.
Her problem seems to have resolved, however, the xrays showed a much more disturbing incidental finding. I found, clearly a pellet in her crop as well as a BB. In her gizzard, are multiple oblong radio opaque objects. Possibly smashed pellets, possible dense pebbles. The BBs are copper coated steel. The MAJOR issue is that the pellets are lead! My husband and I recently bought pellet guns to target rats in our yard. Little did we know, the chickens have been ingesting them! We honestly didn't think about it. I wouldn't think chickens would pick up and ingest a metal pellets. I feel terrible.
Today, I re-x-rayed Arrow (the original problem hen), and at least I know now that the pellet and BB moved into her gizzard. I also grabbed my favorite hen, Georgie, and shot an x-ray of her as well. In her gizzard, she has multiple BBs and at least one distinct pellet along with a couple oblong bright objects (possible spent pellets or rocks). SO, now I'm thinking all 7 of my chickens have been eating them. I plan to take the rest of the hens in on Sunday to x-ray the rest. I want to know.
MY IDEAS:
I have a nice metal detector and I plan to clean up the yard.
I have already ordered lead-free pellets and plan to use them sparingly and clean them up more often
Looking into lead testing the eggs (old and new)
Plan on getting my 12-year-old daughter a blood lead test as well
MY QUESTIONS:
How long do heavy objects stay in their gizzard? Do they pass naturally?
(When they eat pebbles, do they pass or wear down?)
Can I feed them anything to help them pass the metals?
Can I give them enemas? If so, with what and how?
How long will the lead stay in their system and leach out into the eggs?
How much of the lead would be passed to the eggs?
Do I have to destroy my flock and start over?
Any info or expert suggestions would help.
(I think it's worth mentioning that my Vet clinic doesn't have an avian vet, but does have a vet that knows a bit about chickens.)


Her problem seems to have resolved, however, the xrays showed a much more disturbing incidental finding. I found, clearly a pellet in her crop as well as a BB. In her gizzard, are multiple oblong radio opaque objects. Possibly smashed pellets, possible dense pebbles. The BBs are copper coated steel. The MAJOR issue is that the pellets are lead! My husband and I recently bought pellet guns to target rats in our yard. Little did we know, the chickens have been ingesting them! We honestly didn't think about it. I wouldn't think chickens would pick up and ingest a metal pellets. I feel terrible.
Today, I re-x-rayed Arrow (the original problem hen), and at least I know now that the pellet and BB moved into her gizzard. I also grabbed my favorite hen, Georgie, and shot an x-ray of her as well. In her gizzard, she has multiple BBs and at least one distinct pellet along with a couple oblong bright objects (possible spent pellets or rocks). SO, now I'm thinking all 7 of my chickens have been eating them. I plan to take the rest of the hens in on Sunday to x-ray the rest. I want to know.
MY IDEAS:
I have a nice metal detector and I plan to clean up the yard.
I have already ordered lead-free pellets and plan to use them sparingly and clean them up more often
Looking into lead testing the eggs (old and new)
Plan on getting my 12-year-old daughter a blood lead test as well
MY QUESTIONS:
How long do heavy objects stay in their gizzard? Do they pass naturally?
(When they eat pebbles, do they pass or wear down?)
Can I feed them anything to help them pass the metals?
Can I give them enemas? If so, with what and how?
How long will the lead stay in their system and leach out into the eggs?
How much of the lead would be passed to the eggs?
Do I have to destroy my flock and start over?

Any info or expert suggestions would help.
(I think it's worth mentioning that my Vet clinic doesn't have an avian vet, but does have a vet that knows a bit about chickens.)