Hello All, I just wanted to take a minute and tell you all how much I enjoy and rely on this forum. I am sorry that someone isn't fully happy with this site because I think it offers what others sites don't have, Experienced and honest people. I always come when I have questions and even my boys tell me to come here if something isn't quite right with our farm. I like that it teaches them to reach out to people who have lived it and that they don't know it all. Keep up the support and good work. I would hate to loose this resource. Question. I have hens with runny poop, not all of them (65), some. I have tried DE and saw little improvement. I am now giving them Piperazine in their water. I see it is better, it has been 3 days. I am done giving them the wormer but I was wondering if I should throw the eggs out. Or if I can eat them. I wouldn't even ask this if it was antiboitics but I was wondering about the wormer. Is It Safe for the eggs for human consumption? That is my question and I know that I can always ask the silliest things and you always come to my aide. That is what brings me back when I am online. Even to lurk. I still learn and am challenged everytime!!!! :) Karole

-- Karole (Biz3boymom@aol.com), December 06, 2000

Answers

Hi, Karole. I'm with you on supporting this Forum. I say, if you're not interested in the subject, don't participate in it! I have learned soooo much here about homesteading and raising livestock! So what if the subject matter veers a little one way or the other? That's just talking with your neighbors across the fence, to me. As for your chicken question, I haven't got a clue, but I'm sure I'll get some good info with the other, more experienced contributors. That's what it's all about. Good luck!

-- debra in nm (dhaden@nmtr.unm.edu), December 06, 2000.

I personally wouldnt touch the eggs with a ten foot pole! You can pretty much keep troublesome worm populations down by sprinkling some garlic powder in their food every few days; coccidiosis is prevented by frequently feeding tomatoes.

-- Earthmama (earthmama48@yahoo.com), December 06, 2000.

I grew up with a Grandmother who always had chickens and we've had our own for several years. I saw the thread about worming chickens awhile ago on this forum and was perplexed as to why on earth you would ever need to worm chickens? Do you have too many for the space they've got to live in? Seems to me if you keep the coop clean (we use plenty of fresh wood shavings several times a year), give enough space for the amount of birds you have, and feed them organically and allow them to free range, that worms wouldn't be a problem. And, if they are, how on earth do you know? I also would not touch an egg from a chicken that's been treated with wormer with a ten foot pole, at least not for a very long time.

-- Rose Marie Wild (wintersongfarm@yahoo.com), December 06, 2000.

Hi Karole, I placed an order with Jeffers today. I asked about the wormer you used, they said it shouldn't hurt anyone to eat the eggs. I would have felt better if they said it was perfectly safe. I used safe-guard wormer on a milk cow, my vet said the milk was safe to drink, but that is a different wormer. We drank the milk with no ill effects. I hope you get a more definitive answer.

-- Lena(NC) (breezex4@go.com), December 06, 2000.

I feel that most of us are doing what we are doing to stay as natural as possible. This means to keep pesticides, medications and hormons out of our systems. I wouldn't eat the eggs. If it is in their system, it is in the eggs. The government says alot of things are okay but the exceptable levels are still too high as far as I'm concerned.

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), December 06, 2000.

The one time I wormed my chickens (in 5 years) I tossed the eggs for 3 days for safety. Try aiming at a far place in the field or for an old fence post. Call it anger therapy. Give them to a kid to toss at a tree in the field. Or at a can on a fence post. Make it fun so it doesn't feel a waste. I didn't put them in my compost either, as you can tell!

-- Anne (HT@HM.com), December 06, 2000.

Karole, I wouldn't eat the eggs for at least a week, the yolks take up to a week to form inside the hen, so allow for adequete "clearance" time to get the wormer out of their system. You might try adding cider vinegar to their drinking water, one ounce per gallon of water, mixed fresh daily, this keeps the "right" bacteria in their digestive tract, and helps eliminate coccidiosis, salmonella bacteria, and E.Coli bacteria.

I have kept chickens for many, many years, and have yet to lose one to either coccidiosis, or the salmonella bacterias, by always adding the cider vinegar to their water. Annie in SE OH.

-- Annie Miller (annie@1st.net), December 07, 2000.

Try the poultryconnection.com. There are very knowledgable bird people at the general or waterfowl forums.

-- bluetick (coonhound@mindspring.com), December 08, 2000.

Annie: How much cider vinegar and how often? Tnx

-- john leake (natlivent@pcpros.net), December 08, 2000.

John, one ounce per gallon of water used, every day. It will not hurt them at all, and aids mineral absorption in the digestive tract in addition to its antimicrobial quality. Be sure to use CIDER vinegar, the other is made from petroleum products, yuck! Annie in SE OH.

-- Annie Miller (annie@1st.net), December 09, 2000.

Annie, I have heard in other places that white vinegar can be made from petroleum products. But I buy Heinz, which says it is made from corn. Anything you can tell me that belies that? I try to avoid petroleum products, so I really would like to know. I do agree that regardless of it's source of manufacture, white vinegar is not as good as cider vinegar, for consuming anyway. White vinegar is superior for cleaning though, in my opinion.

-- Joy Froelich (dragnfly@chorus.net), December 10, 2000.

Joy, I think your absolutely right about Heinz being made from corn, if it's not from apples it won't do the health benefits desired, however, like you say, it sure cleans whole lot better! I use it myself to wash windows, etc., all the time. Annie in SE OH.

-- Annie Miller (annie@1st.net), December 11, 2000.

I have friends who cannnot partake of any grains of the wheat family, and our understanding was that the reason they must avoid distilled vinegar is because it is made from the aforementioned forbidden group. Can anyone please give some documentation/reference to where the heck this stuff comes from?

-- Earthmama (earthmama48@yahoo.com), December 12, 2000.