Free Egg Contaminant Testing

This is a cool service! If you live in or have a poultry operation in the following counties, you may qualify for free egg contaminant testing provided by the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine (UCD SVM): 

·         Alameda

·         Butte

·         Contra Costa

·         El Dorado

·         Fresno

·         Imperial

·         Kern

·         Los Angeles

·         Lake

·         Mendocino

·         Napa

·         Nevada

·         Orange

·         Placer

·         Sacramento

·         San Benito

·         San Diego

·         San Bernadino

·         Santa Barbara

·         Santa Clara

·         Shasta

·         Solano

·         Sonoma

·         Tulare

·         Ventura

·         Yuba

UC Davis is testing eggs for two different types of contaminants, depending on what county you live in....

Fire Contaminant Testing

For: BACKYARD CHICKENS in Butte, Lake, LA, Mendocino, Napa, Nevada, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Sonoma, Ventura, and Yuba counties.

Due to the fires, there is concern about backyard chickens ingesting contaminants from the ground and transmitting these to their eggs. UCD SVM is interested in testing eggs from these backyard flocks for various contaminants such as heavy metals, building materials, chemicals, etc. 

Results will be shared individually with each owner, and cumulative results will be summarized and made available to the general public. 

Heavy Metal Contaminant Testing

For: COMMERCIAL or BACKYARD CHICKENS in Alameda, Butte, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Fresno, Imperial, Kern, LA, Napa, Orange, Placer, Sacramento, San Benito, San Diego, San Bernadino, Santa Clara, Shasta, Solano, Sonoma, and Tulare counties.

Due to observation of high lead levels in the environment, there is concern that commercial and backyard chickens are being exposed to a level that could pose a public health risk. UCD SVM is interested in testing eggs from these birds for various contaminants such as Pb, PCBs, and PBDEs. 

Results will be shared individually with each owner, and cumulative results will be summarized and made available to the general public. 

Contaminant Testing Instructions

If you are interested in submitting eggs, please ship up to 6 eggs from your flock inside a carton and wrap the carton with bubble wrap and/or ship in a box with packing peanuts. For more detailed instructions and examples of how to pack your eggs, please watch this video.

Please include the following information and ship to the address below:

Requested information to include:

Address where hens reside
Number of hens in flock
Date eggs were collected

Ship eggs to:

UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
1 Shields Drive
Bldg VM3B Room 4007
Attn: Dr. Maurice Pitesky
Davis, CA 95616

Special thanks for this being shared on California Chickens!