Our chickens ate some fertilizer! When can we eat their eggs again?

[mothersin2ition]

I am so frustrated! We live in between two large mint fields and last week, the owners had some fertilizer crop-dusted onto them. Well, we didnt get any warning so imagine my surprise when we woke up to an airplane whirring overhead and tons of little white pellets all over EVERYTHING- I mean in the pond (so far, no casualties), my garden, lawn, and of course the chicken run/coop area. The chickens were out there gobbling it up as fast as it was being dropped.
So we started tossing the eggs because I have no idea for sure what it even was that they dropped, but Im assuming it is fertilizer. When will it be out of their systems? I hate throwing out the eggs, it just kills me- it feels like flushing money down the toilet.

 

[Judy]

I would find out from the owners what it was and do some research.

Sounds to me like they owe you some money. I believe that's called trespassing.

 

[antlers]

Arial applicators can loose their licenses if anything is applied to the wrong land. Call the Sheriff NOW to get proof. THen seek out t he land owner to see what was applied. If straight fertlizer, I woudl pass on the eggs for a couple weeks . Thats best case. Stuff in the ponds could cause alge blooms. WOrst case is some fertlizers can be coated with other pesticides . Only the guy who ordered the product can tell you what was spread. THe guy spreading it is responsible and in many states have to be bonded for incidents like this. THis is serious. DOnt delay.

 

[Big dreams]

I would find out for sure, it might be something totally organic and then you would be tossing your eggs for no reason..

 

[mothersin2ition]

Thanks guys, unfortunately, we have NO rights because we are renters, and the people who fertilized the fields lease that land from our landlords. So I doubt there's anything we could do legally. I do think that I can track the people down who farm the fields to find out what it is that they dumped. I'll try that tomorrow.

 

[rancher hicks]

I understand your reluctance to make waves, but just cause you rent doesn't mean you have to be poisoned either. Finding out what it was let's you know what danger you are in.
Here in NY renters have all the rights. I know I asked at the State Fair for info on landlords rights and was told they don't have any. I'm not a landlord.

 

[beginnerchick08]

Quote:
Just because its organic doesnt mean its not harmful! There is a ton of organic things out there that can kill you.

 

[mothersin2ition]

Rancher hicks, thank you. I will check into the laws around here and find out what rights we have as renters. I don't want to cause waves like you said, but at the same time, I feel what happened was out of line. The least we could have gotten was a warning, so that we could have covered our beds/pond/chicken run somehow.
And on top of that, I have totally organic vegetable gardens that are ruined now- yes they are still edible, but the whole point was that we wanted to grow our own food with no chemicals added!! Grrr!!

 

[CrazyChickMom]

Tenants have rights too. You are paying to live their and have every right (sometimes more) as if you owned the land yourself. I would persue this!

 

[Big dreams]

Quote:
Just because its organic doesnt mean its not harmful! There is a ton of organic things out there that can kill you.

My thought was if you find out what it is then you can find out if it is something to be worried about or not, and or decide how long to toss your eggs.