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| Backyard chickens need, among other things, safe, predator-proof housing and a safe food supply. |
I was chatting with some friends last night about the
proliferation of backyard chickens in Sydney, and the incidence of lead
poisoning in these beautiful creatures. It’s not uncommon to see chickens
suffering from lead poisoning, due most likely to lead contaminated soil. Its not really a new thing. We learned about this at uni and it continues to occur at a steady rate.
“Why is this not a news story?” my friends asked.
We turned on the ABC news and that very moment there was
avian specialist Dr Alex Rosenwax talking about lead poisoning in chickens.
You can read the story here.
This really is a One Health issue. Firstly, affected
chickens suffer. They become dull, depressed, lethargic and weak, and may have difficulty
eating. They can have vomiting, diarrhoea, seizures or problems laying eggs.
And lead poisoning can be fatal (though birds can be treated successfully,
particularly early in the course of the disease).
There are also risks to those who consume the eggs of
these birds, or eat vegies grown in the same soil if precautions are not taken.
And occasionally – depending on the source of lead – other animals can be
affected. Several years ago I treated three dogs from the same household for
lead toxicity (their signs were chronic vomiting and diarrhoea).
The story is not a reason to panic – it highlights simple
precautions we can all take to reduce lead exposure. But it is a good reminder
that chickens displaying signs of illness should be checked out.
