12 week chick ate some cactus spines.

[Celeste Villegas]

I was removing a cluster of Cholla cactus spines from a chick’s foot when my Buff Orpington snatched it out of my hand and ate it! I know that they can eat all kinds of things and be ok, but I have a hard time imagining wlthat it’s not going to get stuck somewhere and I’d imagine it will be painful. They all survived eating more insulation than I’d like to admit, but that’s obviously not thorny. They wouldn’t normally eat cactus spjnes but they tend to think anything I handle is food. Is there anything I can do besides wait and see?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

How is she?
I think this is going to be a wait and see thing.

 

[Celeste Villegas]

She’s eating just fine this morning. Her crop looked empty before her first graze. Behavior seems normal. She’s one of our favorites!

 

[Celeste Villegas]

I was removing a cluster of Cholla cactus spines from a chick’s foot when my Buff Orpington snatched it out of my hand and ate it! I know that they can eat all kinds of things and be ok, but I have a hard time imagining wlthat it’s not going to get stuck somewhere and I’d imagine it will be painful. They all survived eating more insulation than I’d like to admit, but that’s obviously not thorny. They wouldn’t normally eat cactus spjnes but they tend to think anything I handle is food. Is there anything I can do besides wait and see?

I have heard that giving children bread which has gluten helps sharp material to bind more safety and exit the intestines. Does that apply to chickens?

 

[Flockincrazy]

this kind of thing is a wait and see kind of thing hope she is ok

 

[FluffyButtBabies]

I have heard that giving children bread which has gluten helps sharp material to bind more safety and exit the intestines. Does that apply to chickens?

I wouldn't feed them bread (or if you do, very little). Chickens often have no stop button when it comes to eating, so they'll stuff themselves with bread or rice. The problem is that the bread will expand in their stomach and intestines, sometimes blocking or choking them to death. I've had to physically pull bread out of my chicken's esophagus to keep them from dying. So I think your best bet it to make sure her behavior stays regular (no lethargy, refusing to eat) and watch for her poops! A good poo is a good sign!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have heard that giving children bread which has gluten helps sharp material to bind more safety and exit the intestines. Does that apply to chickens?

I think I would just keep watch on her. See that she's eating her normal food, drinking well, active, etc.
Glad she seems fine today.

 

[Celeste Villegas]

I wouldn't feed them bread (or if you do, very little). Chickens often have no stop button when it comes to eating, so they'll stuff themselves with bread or rice. The problem is that the bread will expand in their stomach and intestines, sometimes blocking or choking them to death. I've had to physically pull bread out of my chicken's esophagus to keep them from dying. So I think your best bet it to make sure her behavior stays regular (no lethargy, refusing to eat) and watch for her poops! A good poo is a good sign!

Thanks for your concern. This is a very late response but I didn’t give her bread. She was completely fine and showed no signs of distress from the cactus spine. They truly have iron stomachs.