My four hens I purchased in 2009 had few antibiotics. When I got them, they were about three days old. Until then, they had antibiotics for their whole life. I purchased about two cups of their feed so they would not have a drastic change in diet. There were 10 chicks to share this old feed. I mixed it with their cornmeal and oats for about a week to slowly withdraw them from the antibiotics. I only have Thelma left from the original four, but each new addition was older and was immediately withdrawn from antibiotics. I can eat eggs with no fear.
Sure, some have died, but that happens with hens. They die sometimes from unknown reasons even when they have been fed antibiotics.
Read here for the rest of the news about antibiotic use in Factory Farms where our meat is raised. Our health is at stake.
Wendy sent this site about the human consequences of unchecked animal antiobiotic use.
Are you raising your own meat, eggs, and milk? Or, do you forego eating meat, eggs, and milk products?
When I was a child I was absolutely mortified when I learned that antibiotics were added to the food of pigs, chickens, cows, and other animals and that residues of such wound up in our milk, eggs, and meat supplies. No wonder there are so many people with antibiotic allergies !
ReplyDeleteNow my own children are almost grown, and my concerns in the seventies are being echoed by others. At home, we manage our ducks and chickens organically. The only animal who ever receives an antibiotic is one who is selected as a pet. Once we give an antibiotic, we no longer use the eggs for human beings.
Fortunately, we have found that if they are healthy and they receive clean water and food and have a clean cage, that only rarely (like following a near miss fox attack) do they really need an antibiotic anyway.
The other alternative is to use a powdered topical animal antibiotic, on the wound alone.
Jane,
ReplyDeleteThe rise of antibiotic-resistant strains of diseases is horrifying. With so few hens, it is easy for me to keep them in clean conditions. Unfortunately, I do keep eating factory-farmed meat. I just eat less of it. I suppose I should find some powdered topical ointment for my hens, just in case.
Thanks for the information. I like to know how others manage their animals.
For animals that I will never use as a food source, I use Nitrofurazone water soluble powder .2% It can be used in chickens, and can be used in deep cuts as well as eyes. Since I have done this, I have not needed to give any antibiotic injections following injuries.
ReplyDeleteThis is the product:
http://www.pbsanimalhealth.com/details/NFZ-Puffer/13-112.html
The easiest way to buy one package is to go to Amazon.com and enter NFZ puffer
Do not breathe the powder. Using topical sources of antibiotics will help in decreasing the number of variant organisms, particularly salmonellae, from more widespread antibiotic use.
Jane,
ReplyDeleteI have read not to eat eggs until after the hen has been off antibiotics for awhile. But, you are saying the animal or its products should never be consumed even after a period of time after the animal has no more antibiotics?
Can the last sentence of your comment be extrapolated to humans, too? (the part about variant organisms)
I read this article today and remembered this post of yours. Thought you might be interested.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thepoultrysite.com/poultrynews/28073/impact-of-unchecked-antibiotic-use-in-animals-on-global-human-health
Thanks, Wendy,
DeleteI will read this and put it in the body of the blog.