Safe to eat?

[Mountain Bear]

I was given 6 chickens which are now about 6 months old. Since these chickens were smaller than my laying hens I decided to keep them apart. It turns out that my isolation coop is not exactly secure and the chickens keep flying over the top of the door. I finally gave up and let them just have the main floor of the barn.
I have just noticed that they have been eating the fiberglass insulation off the water line. I would assume the eggs should still be safe to eat but what about the meat. I plan to keep these birds for at least two years. Would any of the fiberglass or tinfoil outter coating be in there meat? Or would they be safe to eat? The birds look and act fine.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I can't imagine how it could work it's way into the meat.

 

[MyPetNugget]

The fiberglass will only go through their digestive track, so they will be safe to eat. My chickens were eating it like candy then I stopped it be covering the insulation with wood.

 

[BCMaraniac]

The only really problem with fiberglass is that it is a respiratory tract irritant. It used to be considered carcinogenic, but that designation has been removed.........

Fiberglass is glass reinforced plastic...sometimes called fiber wool....so it contains very finely ground glass, which can irritate the eyes, and when it gets into the lungs can cause a bronchitis like symptoms.

The chicken could get sick if it inhales the fiberglass particles, but the meat should be just fine.

 

[Mountain Bear]

I just moved them to their new permanent coop with no fiberglass. Found them roosting on the window sill 8ft up with no real steps to get there so I would say they are fine. As for the meat that will be at least a year, I am keeping them for eggs. Hope I can crack the eggs with all the fiberglass. LOL

 

[BCMaraniac]

I just moved them to their new permanent coop with no fiberglass. Found them roosting on the window sill 8ft up with no real steps to get there so I would say they are fine. As for the meat that will be at least a year, I am keeping them for eggs. Hope I can crack the eggs with all the fiberglass. LOL

LOL...talk about a hard boiled egg....

 

[donrae]

It's not exactly the same, but my birds have eaten a fair amount of Styrofoam over the years. I eat my meat and eggs just fine.


Then again, I did get leukemia......

 

[Mountain Bear]

Good to know. When the time comes I will enjoy. I guess the only thing that could pass to the muscle or eggs would be a bit of chemical or colour additive. Certainly the actual fiberglass (or styrophoam) couldn't pass.

 

[BCMaraniac]

Good to know. When the time comes I will enjoy. I guess the only thing that could pass to the muscle or eggs would be a bit of chemical or colour additive. Certainly the actual fiberglass (or styrophoam) couldn't pass.

As quickly as food passes through the GI tract of a chicken, I doubt seriously that there will be much plastic residue absorbed into the blood stream.