Lead Poisoning in Hen

[Kathy Golla]

She will recover cause Hannah got the bird to a vet.
There was a discussion going on about taking poultry to the vet. (“Antibiotics May no longer be available” thread—-aarts seen it). I’ve had two with lead poisoning and these birds would have died if I hadn’t taken them to the vet. No way I can diagnose lead poisoning or get lead chelator without a vet.
Also, per Shadrachs comment, visits to the vet serve to educate new hobbyists with access to vets and now I and Hannah know better what to look for, and even pass on what We have learned from the vet to others.

 

[Kathy Golla]

Good job HannahL. Let us know how she makes out (it may take a while).

 

[micstrachan]

I was wondering about chelation therapy, too. Is that really a thing for chickens? What is the chelating agent?

 

[Kathy Golla]

http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/lead-poisoning
It is...
from experience..
Chelating agents listed under Treatments.

 

[HannahL]

Good job HannahL. Let us know how she makes out (it may take a while).

Thanks so much for your kind words! I think that she'll pull through. She's not out of the woods yet, but her color is a lot better, she's put on some weight, and she already seems to be perking up a bit!

 

[EggWalrus]

You might want to get yourself and your family tested too. I would also do some testing to find the definite source of the lead. Being an older home it could be old lead paint on the house, or the soil within 15 feet of the house if lead paint was stripped from the exterior before repainting. It could also be from old lead pipes, not just under the house, but from the yard pipe going to the well or city water. He'll, it could be from city water pipes! Are there any "out buildings"/barns on the property that batteries or chemicals could have been stored in before you bought the place?
This poor girl could be saving your lives by being a "canary in the coal mine". Lead poisoning is very serious, just ask all those people in Flint, MI whose children wound up retarded by lead poisoning in the city water.