Steel wool pieces in oyster shell

[GinaNew York]

Have you taken a magnet to see if it's magnetic? Is it prickly/very sharp like steel wool?

I have found a small piece like you show in your photo in my oyster shells - but it was soft and fibrous - like don't know how to describe it - sea weed? or something "hairy" that would grow on the outside of a shell. What I found was not steel wool, but it does look like it. (The piece I found did not stick to a magnet).

Now, I don't doubt you...I understand you called and got a response. If what you found is magnetic, then I would dump the whole thing and not risk there being any metal filings that the chickens would consume.

I will bring a magnet and check, but I threw the manna pro away and went handful by handful with the coastal to check. Im going to do this forever now.

 

[GinaNew York]

Oh ITA with you but....
http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/...and_rodent_hairs_are_allowed_in_your_food.htm

the ct agricultural dept said it's not allowed if it can hurt them, and this will - so they're checking into this

 

[GinaNew York]

I suspect that several brands use the same packer/source. I've been trying to confirm but simply have been unable. I also suspect the "machine" in question is on the 50# bagging line as they often use different lines for different size packaging. My suspicion is based on your call to mannapro who offered 5# bags as a replacement.

I thought exactly the same thing until a member posted above that they have a five pound bag with it - I would love to know if there's only one packer for all these different brands

 

[GinaNew York]

I have the Dumor brand from TSC and checked it last night. It's a five pound bag---my girls aren't laying yet but they should be close so I bought a small bag and put some out in case some feel the need to munch calcium (they're still on chick feed right now). Three of the six are interested and three took some and spit it out.
Yep, pieces of very fine fuzzy steel wool. Not a lot and I could see them and pick them out. Finer and softer than Brillo or SOS pads, sort of like a small blob of furry hair, just like in Gina's photos.
From now on I will spread out whatever I give them in a big pan and check for crap like that before putting it in their oyster shell dish.
Maybe this is an accepted thing, like bug parts in dried pasta?
Disturbing but perhaps those very fine pieces degrade quickly if eaten and hopefully do no harm.
Still, YUCK.

Take the bag and call your local dept of agriculture so they can check lots and they will have to go out and buy an unopened bag to confirm - please do so this can be recalled - where are you located?

 

[PennyM]

I just opened a 5 lb. bag the other day and found what looked like a piece of blue plastic-like stuff. Kind of what's on a scrubby one would use on Teflon.

 

[GinaNew York]

I just opened a 5 lb. bag the other day and found what looked like a piece of blue plastic-like stuff. Kind of what's on a scrubby one would use on Teflon.

exactly, save the bag and call your dept of agriculture so they can do an investigation - there has to be a recall or consequences for the suppliers

 

[GinaNew York]

Good to know! I dug around the top of my bag last night and didn't see anything that wasn't supposed to be in there. Unfortunately I don't have something to dump it into to look deeper, but I'll keep an eye out. Thank you for checking!


It's possible they can't issue a recall if they don't issue lot numbers for their product. Without lot numbers they won't be able to tell which bags may be contaminated.

if you have a plastic garbage bag it's big enough to empty some out and look - be careful

 

[GinaNew York]

so far, SC, Ohio and CT, and NY are reporting finding these types of pieces - has to be more places too

 

[NancyNurseCxMama]

Take the bag and call your local dept of agriculture so they can check lots and they will have to go out and buy an unopened bag to confirm - please do so this can be recalled - where are you located?

I am in NY.
I'm going to do the magnet test if I find any more pieces of stuff.

 

[biodarwin]

my girls aren't laying yet but they should be close so I bought a small bag and put some out in case some feel the need to munch calcium

If they are still on chick feed, I wouldn't offer them OS, depending on their age, their kidneys are still developing and you don't want additional calcium until they lay their first egg.