lead in the veg patch - problem ?

[meinnotts 1]

i have a range at the bottom of the garden ste up with a backstop etc, i try and pick up / sweep up most of the pellets i use but a fair few end up knocking around the bottom end of the garden near and in the veg patch

 

this also is an area that my hens free range in when i have finished the veg to scratch it up / fertilise it

 

it occured to me this might be a problem

 

anyone know if lead poisoning of the ground or the hens could occur ????

[Grim Reaper 1]

I would think it won't be a problem mate, i would also like to think that chooks ain't that daft - I think most birds would know as soon as they pick it up in thier beaks whether something is going to be eatable? I am not 100% sure of this, of course, but as I said, i would like to think they have at least that much brain to tell the difference between edible and non-edible??

 

I hope i am right in my confidence of a chickens intelligence and behaviour! Lol

 

 

All the best,

Grim.

Edited July 31, 2008 by Grim Reaper

[meinnotts 1]

your right they are not that daft they don't eat it lol

 

i am more nothered about the rain washing it through into the soil and into anything that grows in there that i / the hens eat

[SEAN3513 7]

I would think it won't be a problem mate, i would also like to think that chooks ain't that daft - I think most birds would know as soon as they pick it up in thier beaks whether something is going to be eatable? I am not 100% sure of this, of course, but as I said, i would like to think they have at least that much brain to tell the difference between edible and non-edible??

 

I hope i am right in my confidence of a chickens intelligence and behaviour! Lol

 

 

All the best,

Grim.

 

agreed!!!!

 

the lead has to oxidise before it would contaminate the ground and you would need a considerable amount of lead to cause contamination..........several hundred tins ( of pellets) i would imagine!!!

 

all the best

 

sean

[Biffo1262 0]

Hmm! My dad when I was a teenager used to play merry hell with me when he riddled out his veggy patch every year. There was enough lead to flash the roof. I used to say that when his hair and teeth fell out then we'd know if it had any effect. Well his hair DID disappear as did his teeth and he passed away aged 53! Now my hair is waving goodbye and I've not got many of my own teeth left but I have, at least reached, 60 years of age. Mind you I don't smoke like he did and I didn't have to suffer the effects of World War II so the jury is out on the lead issue in the veggy patch.

[Deker 3,491]

I used to go to a clay shoot on a dairy farm, it was on every 2 weeks for about 4 years...the vet then stepped in and said the led was a problem for the cows.

 

The shoot moved and I was more than a little surprised to see 2 of the stands were shot over beautiful wheat fields

 

Now ... there were probably between 100-150 people at every shoot with 7 stands and practice...so a lot more lead hitting the ground than in the case of this thread..but someting to still be mindful of!!