A few weeks ago my flock of 50 chickens ate a piece for foam insulation (2 inches by 4 inches by twelve feet in the course of 1 day). I have found no good scientific research about this topic... But am wondering if folks have knowledge of the egg cycle and at what point it might be safe to start eating (and selling) the eggs again? I am assuming the meat will never be safe to eat because of the toxins being stored in the birds fat... But am curious to hear opinions... Thanks, Anna
Hi Anna Glad you could join the flock! I'm afraid I'm not sure what to suggest for your eggs but please do pop by here ~ https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/10/emergencies-diseases-injuries-and-cures I hope members there can offer you some advice on what the foam may have done to your birds. Good luck and enjoy BYC
Hope you find the answer you need. For some reason foam is irresistible to chickens, I've seen a lot of chickens eat it (not mine thankfully).
When I started on BYC years ago, many people mentioned that their birds ate foam insulation or any foam they could find. Some called foam, 'crack' for chickens. Who knows what goes on in the minds and stomachs of chickens - weird. at that time no one reported any problems or injuries. I would think it could clog up their crops. I would do whatever I could to prevent them from coming in contact with it. Could you put plywood paneling over it to keep chickens away? They will also eat anything shiny like nails, screws, earrings, rings, - hopefully junk in will become junk out, with no harm done.
Mine ate the side off a small cooler that I had filled with extra water last summer and nothing happen to them. I'm guessing yours should be fine, too.
I'm actually not too worried about what will happen to them- I'm worried about the effects of injesing the toxins in foam insulation myself- and on the people who buy my eggs. In particular the fire retardant. My specific question is about the egg cycle- for example, if a chicken is taking medicine that a human would not want to Injest how many eggs will absorb that medicine? I guess it's a matter of degrees as there are so many eggs inside a chicken at a given time. Anyone have any information about how much toxins in a chicken are transfers over to their eggs?
