Chickens are stupid! Ours eat thy styrofoam (didn't even think about = it!), fiberglass (that was a problem I had to fix), and just about = anything that will fit in their mouth. If it isn't food I think they = recognize it as potential grit. Heck, who knows what goes through a = chicken's mind! =20 =20 Malcolm L. McCallum Assistant Professor Department of Biological Sciences Texas A&M University Texarkana 2600 Robison Rd. Texarkana, TX 75501 O: 1-903-233-3134 H: 1-903-791-3843 Homepage: https://www.eagle.tamut.edu/faculty/mmccallum/index.html =20
________________________________ From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news on behalf of = DeSolla,Shane [Burlington] Sent: Mon 1/23/2006 9:04 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Birds and styrofoam pellets Hi Warren. I don't know of the toxicity, but chickens will eat styrofoam pellets. In fact, they may consume large styrofoam sheets given a chance - they will peck off bits until it is gone. I have no idea of toxicity. I did not notice any change in the taste of the eggs... The only thing I found was: DICKERMAN RW and GOELET RG. 1987. NORTHERN GANNET STARVATION AFTER SWALLOWING STYROFOAM. MAR POLLUT BULL; 18(6). 293 Cheers, Shane _____________________________________________ Shane de Solla Wildlife Conservation Biologist Canadian Wildlife Service Canada Centre for Inland Waters 867 Lakeshore Road Box 5050 Burlington, ON L7R 4A6 Canada phone 905-336-4686 fax 905-336-6434 Opinions expressed are those of the author and do not represent those of his employer. > -----Original Message----- > From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Warren W. Aney > Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2006 4:21 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Birds and styrofoam pellets > > > I have been using small (<5 mm) styrofoam pellets as a soil > additive. Since they tend to accumulate on the soil surface, > these whitish pellets might easily be ingested by ground > foraging birds. I've done a quick Google search and found > little information indicating whether or not this material > might be ingested or, if ingested, that it will have adverse > effects. Does anyone have any information regarding this? > > Warren Aney > (503)246-8613 >
