found reason for egg 'allergy'

14 years ago

I had been feeding my geese rabbit feed and supplementing it to my chickens just to add more "green stuff" to their diets throughout the winter. The layer mash contains a synthetic vitamin K: menadione sodium busulfite complex. the rabbit feed contains that and another: menadione dimethylpyrimidinol bisulfite. Now that my birds are free ranging again, they're not eating the rabbit feed anymore, and the eggs are no longer causing a reaction in me. I did some research and found that these substances are also in commercial pet foods and are causing allergic reactions in pets and there is effort to get them removed. I've taken the feed away.

Comments (7)

lazy_gardens
14 years ago
It's the bisulfite part ...

http://www.webmd.com/allergies/guide/sulfite-sensitivity
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy731

Not exactly an allergy, but a sensitivity. A large array of dermatological, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular symptoms can be shown.
woodrose711
Original Author
14 years ago
I did enough research about it to find it's toxic. Google "dogfood project" and look for "menadione/vitamin K3". It's been found that pets/livestock don't really need this supplement, although vitamin K is produced in the gut by bacteria, and all the meds/antibiotics that are fed animals kills these bacteria. Also, meds interfere with vitamin K absorption. I suspect that it's added to make up for the detrimental effects of med/antibiotic overuse.
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velvet_sparrow
14 years ago
Excellent post, a great example of why you should stick with the right feed for the right animal. It's those little things that people never suspect or realize can cause problems.

Good sleuthing! :)

Velvet ~:>
woodrose711
Original Author
14 years ago
yeah, it although wasn't very pleasant being a guinea pig! But, I wonder, wouldn't that same toxin get in the meat of the food rabbits, too? I'd think Id want to avoud eating rabbits too, for this reason.
seramas
14 years ago
Supplementing with organic rabbit pellets (ORP) you would have avoided this. During the winter I have always feed ORP but not more than 5% (1 part ORP to 19 parts layer 16% and 1 part Calf Manna). Layers will produce all winter long on this mix.

Another thing IÂve do is grow sprouts using wild bird feed and oats mixed together. They go nuts over sprouts.
woodrose711
Original Author
13 years ago
good Idea! I think they'll love the sprouts! thanks!
Maggie_J
13 years ago
It is quite possible to raise rabbits without feeding pellets. I've been doing it for several years. Mine get alfalfa hay, small amounts of grain and as many greens as the season allows. Most of the green feed is in the form of safe weeds: dandelions, chicory, young dock leaves, clover, alfalfa, Queen Anne's lace, sow thistles, prickly lettuce, willow, apple or pear twigs and leaves and many others. If this idea interests you, please be aware that it does take time to transition the rabbits from a pelleted diet to a natural one. I did it gradually over about two months. More information about natural feeding is available on these specialized rabbit forums.

http://rabbittalk.com/
http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/forumdisplay.php?f=14

Here is a link that might be useful: RabbitTalk