Lead poisining

[ChickenBro 07]

I live in Phoenix ,AZ and I have 6 chickens about 5 months old and im wondering where can i check if they have elevated amounts of lead. I have a bullet box and I have been shooting lead bullets in there, but i had a piece of styrofoam in front of it and my chickens pecked at it. please help me, thanks.

 

[redsoxs]

I'm not a vet but I would not think them pecking at some styrofoam bits that bullets had passed though will hurt your birds. Not sure how long it takes lead to leach into the soil but I think it's when they consume actual lead bullets that then get ground up in the gizzard that lead poisoning results. But again, I'm not a vet so perhaps others will chime in. Also, if you have an extension agent perhaps they will know about soil testing. Good luck to you!