Please help...My chickens ate bad tomatoes!

[merrymom]

Hello fellow chicken lovers. My chickens got into a bit of mischief and I'm worried about them! I had thrown away a a jar of tomatoes that hadn't sealed properly. My hens got into the outside trash, broke the jar and ate the tomatoes. Of course my fear is botulism. What can I do and what should I watch for? I'm scared that I will lose my entire flock! (7 Black stars and 2 white rock bantams) Please offer advice if you have any. Thanks!

 

[arllcountrygirl]

IMO - They will be fine. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

 

[greyfields]

There's really nothing that can be done here. If they indeed get the botulism toxin, it will make them sick and kill them. There are anti-toxins for humans, which aren't fullproof. Nothing for us in the livestock arena though.... at least as far as I've ever heard of.

 

[redhen]

EEK!..i hope they will be okay!..how are they now?

 

[chickygirl2]

Tomatoes are safer than other canned items because the acidity is high. They should be ok.

 

[merrymom]

I just put them up for the night. They seem fine so far.

 

[sunnydee]

I would be more concerned of the glass they ingested!

 

[merrymom]

I didn't think about them eating glass! I don't think they did...but they could have.

 

[Kathy1]

I have to agree with chickygirl2, the acid is higher than in jams etc, so I think they will be fine. How are they today?

 

[merrymom]

They seem completely fine today. Would I have seen signs of botulism by now?