I had a family emergency and had to go out of town unexpectedly. The day I ended up leaving, I had bought a couple HUGE rhubarb plants and put out an entire bag offf the iron-based 'bird/pet safe' slug bait in an area that the poultry normally can't get to. In my dash out, I managed to leave the gate open. Since hubby didn't know better, he didn't move the rhubarb plants when he noticed a chicken & a duck eating the leaves as fast as they could. The same hen was later chased out of the area I had sprinkled the slug bait in after consuming an unknown amount. In the days I was gone, the two birds -the rest are smarter- ate the equivalent of about 5 heads of romaine of rhubarb leaves & unknown amounts of slug bait. The others are less adventerous & stuck with their several acres of meadow & yard. The duck is obviously weaker but otherwise seems ok. The hen couldn't stand or lift her head at all when I got home but has in just over a week progressed to staggering in her crate & perching on a perch @1" off the ground, added because she kept trying to perch on her water dish. Neither seems to beb recovering any farther & I'm debating culling. They don't seem to be in any pain, are bright eyed, & eating & drinking well.
Anyone ever have birds try to commit suicide by either of these methods? How did it turn out? No, I'm not going to take them to the vet...the choice is continue to give them time with possibly some OTC treatment or cull. I admit I'll be bummed if I have to cull...the hen is one of my more entertaining and predator-wise birds. The duck....well, she's lucky she lays a lot of very black eggs!
Anyone ever have birds try to commit suicide by either of these methods? How did it turn out? No, I'm not going to take them to the vet...the choice is continue to give them time with possibly some OTC treatment or cull. I admit I'll be bummed if I have to cull...the hen is one of my more entertaining and predator-wise birds. The duck....well, she's lucky she lays a lot of very black eggs!
