One or more of my hens started laying, still on medicated feed

[playhousechickens]

So one or more of my 4 month old hens has started laying! It's a shock since my old girls didn't start till 6 months. I wasn't prepared for them to start laying yet. I still have them on medicated feed, but will be switching it to a laying pellet now that they are maturing. My question is how long do I have to wait before the medication in the feed has gone through their system and won't be in the eggs? The first three eggs (one was a double yolk already!) I fed to my dog because we don't want to waste them, but won't be eating them ourselves until their systems are clear. On a side note, my husband will be getting a new waterer because the galvanized waterer has started to rust and he doesn't want that in our eggs either. Is this actually a concern?

 

[Judy]

If the feed is medicated by the amprolium, you can safely eat the eggs. This medication for the most part stays in the chicken's gut so does not get into eggs.

A galvanized waterer shouldn't rust, but if I had one that did, I'd probably replace it. Actually I'd probably take it back to where I bought it and ask for a refund or replacement.

 

[playhousechickens]

Thanks for your response! I will check out which medication is in the feed. How do you feel about a plastic feeder? My concern is the chemicals in plastic.

 

[lorain's fids]

Thanks for your response! I will check out which medication is in the feed. How do you feel about a plastic feeder? My concern is the chemicals in plastic.

I use plastic waterers and it never crossed my mind about the chemicals in the plastic leaching into the girls drinking water. And that is really not like me as I don't use anything plastic in my kitchen where food/water is concerned. I was using a galvanised waterer but I didn't like how the inside was looking, also I started using ACV in their water and I know you can't put the ACV in a galvanised one. I will have to look into pba free waterers fro the girls now.

 

[DianeS]

My chicken waterer is just a heavy glazed ceramic bowl. A dog bowl in fact, from a yard sale. It holds about a gallon, which is plenty for my 4 hens. Like you, I had concerns about plastic since I avoid it for myself, and I didn't want metal because it is sometimes light enough to get tipped over if two hens perch on the same side of it. So ceramic solved my problems.

 

[lorain's fids]

My chicken waterer is just a heavy glazed ceramic bowl. A dog bowl in fact, from a yard sale. It holds about a gallon, which is plenty for my 4 hens. Like you, I had concerns about plastic since I avoid it for myself, and I didn't want metal because it is sometimes light enough to get tipped over if two hens perch on the same side of it. So ceramic solved my problems.

Diane,
My girls would "walk" through the bowl and/or stand in it to drink.-LOL!! Just did some looking on-line and it looks like "lix-it" makes a bpa free chicken waterer-I have to call the company on Monday just to double check- I had seen it for sale in "mypetchicken.com". Or if that doesn't work I am thinking of getting a bpa free dog or cat waterer. I seen them at Petco.