NEW enclosure-metal rusted particles, can it harm chickens

[valleyquail]

My new chicken enclosure seems to have a lot of tiny bits of metal in the dirt. I used a MAGNET and collected old rusty nails, screws, and lots of other metal pieces. The big stuff seems to be gone now. I collected a lot of the smaller stuff, but, will any of that harm a chicken. It's not in an eating area. I know they will be scratching the dirt.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I would be worried. They eat EVERYTHING in the soil. Is there lead? Any sharp pieces?

All you can do I guess is go over the area with a fine toothed comb (magnet) if this is the only spot you have to put the chickens. I just wouldn't want to eat the eggs after they go eating lead or some other poisonous metal.

This is just my opinion- I really have no experience with this.

Your other option would be to truck in some more dirt and cover it all up, if the situation is really bad.

I hope it works out for you!

 

[RedneckChikns]

Ditto they eat EVERYTHING and shiny things in the ground will be yum yums to them. Bring in dirt if you cant relocate pen....dirt or sand and then shavings and Im talking like 5 or more inches...and even then Id still hesitate to eat the eggs. :-/