Is it okay to eat eggs from medicated hens?

[courtneyytags]

I had to medicate my hens to help them fight off some fowl pox. I put chlorhexidine in their water 2ml/gal. Does anyone know if it is safe to eat their eggs?
Thanks.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I had to medicate my hens to help them fight off some fowl pox. I put chlorhexidine in their water 2ml/gal. Does anyone know if it is safe to eat their eggs?
Thanks.

Show a photo of the product you are using please.

Links to info about using Chlorhexidine in the drinking water and dosing?

Also, where are you located in the world?

Thanks!

 

[courtneyytags]

Show a photo of the product you are using please.

Links to info about using Chlorhexidine in the drinking water and dosing?

Also, where are you located in the world?

Thanks!

Hey, I am from Hawaii. My vet told me that fowl pox here isn’t too bad and my hens should be making a full recovery. He gave me a bottle and told me to put some in their waterer.
https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-5356/chlorhexidine-gluconate-mouth-and-throat/details

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hey, I am from Hawaii. My vet told me that fowl pox here isn’t too bad and my hens should be making a full recovery. He gave me a bottle and told me to put some in their waterer.
https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-5356/chlorhexidine-gluconate-mouth-and-throat/details

Never heard of drinking it. Using that for an oral rinse, sure...but not drinking it.
Since this is vet prescribed, then they should be able to tell you if there's a withdrawal period or not.

Curious...do your chickens have Wet Form (diptheric form) of Fowl Pox with lesions inside the beak, throat, etc. or just Dry Form - scabs/lesions on the outside of the body?

 

[courtneyytags]

Never heard of drinking it. Using that for an oral rinse, sure...but not drinking it.
Since this is vet prescribed, then they should be able to tell you if there's a withdrawal period or not.

Curious...do your chickens have Wet Form (diptheric form) of Fowl Pox with lesions inside the beak, throat, etc. or just Dry Form - scabs/lesions on the outside of the body?

Hi there, they have the dry form. My vet just told me that the eggs can’t be sold because they’re “adulterated” but he said he’d be happy to “dispose” of them for me. I’m assuming that means they’re safe to eat? Not sure…

 

[Fallenone05]

Hi there, they have the dry form. My vet just told me that the eggs can’t be sold because they’re “adulterated” but he said he’d be happy to “dispose” of them for me. I’m assuming that means they’re safe to eat? Not sure…

If he said they can't be sold due to being adulterated, then they probably can't be eaten. People buy eggs to eat, right? They might be tossing them as hazardous materials right now since they could potentially have medication inside them.

I'd give them a call in the morning and ask if there's a withdrawal period for this medication. With some dewormers it's two weeks, followed by a second dosing, then another two weeks to make sure it's fine to eat.

Definitely ask your vet to be safe.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi there, they have the dry form. My vet just told me that the eggs can’t be sold because they’re “adulterated” but he said he’d be happy to “dispose” of them for me. I’m assuming that means they’re safe to eat? Not sure…

Call to clarify with your vet about what they meant.

Dry Form of Fowl Pox usually resolves on it's own without having to administer anything, but some folks will sanitize their water using Iodine if they are worried about it spreading.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I can't find a withdrawal period for chlorhexidine in chickens for oral treatment. Assume your Vet is erring on the side of caution. Chlorhexidine Gluconate is routinely prescribed here in the US as a mouth rinse after oral surgery. That said, its not to be swallowed, but if it were highly toxic to humans, they wouldn't risk it in a mouth wash.

Here's the FDA, with a rare but serious side effect warning.

 

[courtneyytags]

Hey,
So my vet said I should wait 7 days after finishing the medication to eat the eggs.
Thanks for the help guys

I can't find a withdrawal period for chlorhexidine in chickens for oral treatment. Assume your Vet is erring on the side of caution. Chlorhexidine Gluconate is routinely prescribed here in the US as a mouth rinse after oral surgery. That said, its not to be swallowed, but if it were highly toxic to humans, they wouldn't risk it in a mouth wash.

Here's the FDA, with a rare but serious side effect warning.