My chickens were eating candle wax.....

[Sobek]

I went outside to check on them and I guess they were really hungry.... and I saw them eating what I thought was rice. I picked one up and I smelled her and she smelled funny.... So I looked at what they were eating it was some kind of candle. The candle smelled horrible. If it does make them sick.. What will I notice and is there anything I could do?

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

I went outside to check on them and I guess they were really hungry.... and I saw them eating what I thought was rice. I picked one up and I smelled her and she smelled funny.... So I looked at what they were eating it was some kind of candle. The candle smelled horrible. If it does make them sick.. What will I notice and is there anything I could do?

Was that one of those mosquito-repelling candles? Some of them contain insecticides, most common are pyrethroids which are not really poisonous to birds and mammals. But there are some candles full of "natural" oils from citrus plants and (worse) tea-tree oil that can cause nausea and digestive tract problems when swallowed.
How much of the candle was eaten? And - estimate - how much per chicken?
You can give them a slurry made out of activated charcoal to absorb the bad stuff. I have no chickens, but ducks and i would give them a charcoal capsule, but idk if that's applicable for chickens. - Have them drink much water, the idea is to get that stuff out asap.

 

[Sobek]

Was that one of those mosquito-repelling candles? Some of them contain insecticides, most common are pyrethroids which are not really poisonous to birds and mammals. But there are some candles full of "natural" oils from citrus plants and (worse) tea-tree oil that can cause nausea and digestive tract problems when swallowed.
How much of the candle was eaten? And - estimate - how much per chicken?
You can give them a slurry made out of activated charcoal to absorb the bad stuff. I have no chickens, but ducks and i would give them a charcoal capsule, but idk if that's applicable for chickens. - Have them drink much water, the idea is to get that stuff out asap.

More candle than I would want to eat. I don't understand why they would eat that?!?! even if they were hungry there is so much grass and there has been frogs from the flooding around... 2 chickens and it was a nice dent in the candle. Would anything really soak up wax??

 

[Sobek]

Was that one of those mosquito-repelling candles? Some of them contain insecticides, most common are pyrethroids which are not really poisonous to birds and mammals. But there are some candles full of "natural" oils from citrus plants and (worse) tea-tree oil that can cause nausea and digestive tract problems when swallowed.
How much of the candle was eaten? And - estimate - how much per chicken?
You can give them a slurry made out of activated charcoal to absorb the bad stuff. I have no chickens, but ducks and i would give them a charcoal capsule, but idk if that's applicable for chickens. - Have them drink much water, the idea is to get that stuff out asap.

So far they seem fine... I'll keep checking up on them. I gave them chicken and a bunch of wet feed. hoping they would eat enough to prevent them from getting sick...
I gave them a bunch of food they didn't even finish!!! they couldn't have been that hungry...
GOD THAT CANDLE SMELL WAS DISGUSTING

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

More candle than I would want to eat. I don't understand why they would eat that?!?! even if they were hungry there is so much grass and there has been frogs from the flooding around... 2 chickens and it was a nice dent in the candle. Would anything really soak up wax??

My ducks peeled the insulation of the AC-pipes off. Just because it is fun to do so. Ducks and Styrofoam equals a snow-storm in summer!
As said, the wax will just pass through the bird, i am concerned about the additional stuff, that is making the smell…
@casportpony @Miss Lydia

 

[Sobek]

My ducks peeled the insulation of the AC-pipes off. Just because it is fun to do so. Ducks and Styrofoam equals a snow-storm in summer!
As said, the wax will just pass through the bird, i am concerned about the additional stuff, that is making the smell…
@casportpony @Miss Lydia

Yeah it smells HORRIBLE. I think it's one of the worst candle smells I think I have ever smelled it was vomit inducing :x

 

[Sobek]

My ducks peeled the insulation of the AC-pipes off. Just because it is fun to do so. Ducks and Styrofoam equals a snow-storm in summer!
As said, the wax will just pass through the bird, i am concerned about the additional stuff, that is making the smell…
@casportpony @Miss Lydia

thanks for letting me know about the charcoal though where could I buy that type of powder. I keep pill capsules on hand

 

[hispoptart]

Yeah it smells HORRIBLE. I think it's one of the worst candle smells I think I have ever smelled it was vomit inducing :x

It's been asked, but again what type of candle was it? and where did it come from???

 

[Miss Lydia]

thanks for letting me know about the charcoal though where could I buy that type of powder. I keep pill capsules on hand

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/flushes-for-aiding-in-toxin-removal.700526/

 

[Sobek]

It's been asked, but again what type of candle was it? and where did it come from???

I'm not really sure... it doesn't even have a label my neighbor might know it was hers