4 1/2 month roo swallowed equivalent to small toothpick

[MaggieP]

Yesterday my 4 1/2 month old cuckoo maran roo swallowed a piece of wood that looked like a small toothpick. It was a splinter off of our fence that he must have pulled off. I noticed he had it hanging out of his mouth like it was stuck. I was going to grab it and pull it out but he quickly swallowed it. My heart sank. Today he is just standing with his feathers slightly puffed up and not doing well. Poop is normal and he is eating chick grit/chick starter. And I saw him drink water. I called vet but he is in a meeting out of town and his assistant answered. She said we need to get it out and to empty the crop. His crop feels completely empty and my mom said that forcing it out may cause more damage. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
**Update: He lived!!!!**

 

[MaggieP]

Well, in case anyone who reads this would appreciate an update... I was left to my own guessing and I was able to get him to eat a good amount of grit along with a little chick starter. Had no idea if this was a bad or good idea. I had to leave for a few hours and when I got back I made my husband go check on him because I didn't want to find him dead. To our surprise he was standing in the run. I let them all out so I could get a better idea. He seems to be doing slightly better? He came over and even ate a little of the kale I have planted for them. His feathers weren't puffed up like earlier and he was even walking around a bit. He is however shaking his head pretty consistently. I hope somehow this works it's way out. So far he is still fighting it.

 

[MaggieP]

Looks like he beat it. He crowed today! So happy ending.

 

[5cutechicks]

I just seen your post, so glad your chickey is doing good! I'm a newbie chicken owner and wouldn't have a clue what to do I'm just so happy he's doing well. I worry about one if my silkie chickens that keeps eating straw, she's so tiny I don't know how she can digest that stuff! So if yours can eat a piece of wood and survive, straw must be okay!

 

[MaggieP]

I just seen your post, so glad your chickey is doing good! I'm a newbie chicken owner and wouldn't have a clue what to do I'm just so happy he's doing well. I worry about one if my silkie chickens that keeps eating straw, she's so tiny I don't know how she can digest that stuff! So if yours can eat a piece of wood and survive, straw must be okay!

Thanks for caring! He is still doing really well no more signs of anything. And about that straw eating, I catch my naughty girls eating it too even though they have soooo many other better options. I just make sure I have chick grit available for them and they free rage most of the day and pick up little rocks and dirt that all hopefully aid in breaking up any of the tuff stuff.

 

[5cutechicks]

Glad to hear he is still doing good! Also glad someone else's chicken eats straw too! Funny you say your naughty girls are the ones eating straw, it's only my one hen and she is the naughty one too!