Hens & sewage

Hi all

This morning we had a drain company pumping a drain local to our house and unfortunately, the sewage started to pump out of the drain in our garden. Luckily, I noticed it as it happened as our hens were worryingly giving it a lot of attention & started to peck around in it. In a mad rush I gathered them up & locked them in their run.  The drain company are due back this afternoon to pump it out & disinfect.  I'm now conerned about the health of our hens. Can anyone tell me if I should be concerned about their quick peck around  and also should I dispose of the eggs for a few days? 

If you are unsure what to do your local Council Environmental Health Dept are probably the ones to report it to.  Not just for your hens but for the fact that their has been a spillage I think they should be notified. You need to know what they are using to disinfect the area as it may be unsafe for your hens to graze the area for some time.  Let us know how you get on.

I would personally dispose of the eggs for at least 4 days.   

As chemicals like domestos are put down toilets I don't think a couple of days would make much difference.  You may be able to ask them to do soil analysis so that you know it is safe for yourself, your pets and any vegetables you might grow.  I would ring Citizens Advice to see what your rights are.   

Dont know if I should be telling this, in China and Indai, they put the night soil straight out in where ever they have food plants and hens running about, human soil is sold dried by sewage farms, I know it is sterilised during the drying process

On farms, hens are usually running loose among cow/horse droppings

I would be very concerned with what they are sterilizing the area with

Just a note on the smell, if you can imagine your nose is full of bubbles (like bubblew wrap) as each one fills with a smell, it becomes less noticeable (the reason you cant smell your pefume or aftershave after 5 minutes) if you leave the area for a short while the smel returns as the bubbles empty of any smell returns and you can smell it again (this is why any gas leak can be dangerous, you get used to it)

Quote from: pepsi100 on May 13, 2013, 20:01

On farms, hens are usually running loose among cow/horse droppings

But they are herbivores. :blink:

Yes, they are, and their droppings are left in piles, where as human waste is piped away, but if either get into the ground water, disease will follow

Herbivore waste is just as harmfull as human waste


I would be interested in how they sterlized the area and with what ?