Chick has choked on something and tongue has slipped down the throat...

[wyancrazy]

Hi everyone,

I managed to get a look down the poor chicky's throat and the tongue is well down. We can't see the base enough to make 100% sure there isn't a hair around it but we can't see any obstructions or constrictions in there. Tried to get a couple of photos to look at, but they pretty much just show there's no tongue in the beak area.

Rowena.

 

[wyancrazy]

And a normal color. I looks a bit grey in the video, but accurate color is hard to film.

If a hair or something wrapped around the tongue, it might have cut off the blood supply.

Yes the tongue looks a little light coloured to me too. Will let the chick have a rest and then see if I can pull it up again for him/her. It's got tiny little spurs so I'm guessing him though I'm not 100% on parentage so maybe females have the tiny spur lump there too.

Rowena.

 

[wyancrazy]

If it's tongue is not in the normal position I would not try to give it water.

I'm definitely not squirting water into the beak. I would only put a drip on the outside of the tip of the beak and see if the chick wants to swallow it. I'm not trying that yet though, we just looked down it's throat and I want to let it rest for a bit first.

Rowena.

 

[FarmerGirl101]

OP, This is normal placement for the tongue

I think you might need to sleep it is like 2am there

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Yes the tongue looks a little light coloured to me too. Will let the chick have a rest and then see if I can pull it up again for him/her. It's got tiny little spurs so I'm guessing him though I'm not 100% on parentage so maybe females have the tiny spur lump there too.

Rowena.

You are doing a great job. It's hard when they are so small.

Yes, females will have little spur buds, more on some breeds than others. I have a 6 yr old Welsummer hen with almost 2 inch spurs. My 2 yr old Wellie hen is starting to grow them too.

 

[wyancrazy]

Hi everyone,

Little chick is still alive and standing hunched with his little brother/sister chick in the warm inside hutch. I took some video to show how he's breathing. He/she is still throwing backwards as if in fright to maybe dislodge the tongue. There is no gap around the tongue or trachea to get any fluids into the poor wee chickie.

Thanks everyone for responding and suggesting things.
Rowena.

 

[wyancrazy]

You are doing a great job. It's hard when they are so small.

Yes, females will have little spur buds, more on some breeds than others. I have a 6 yr old Welsummer hen with almost 2 inch spurs. My 2 yr old Wellie hen is starting to grow them too.

Hi Wishing4Wings, my Silver Laced Wyandotte hens don't have the spur on the legs, so I wasn't sure about the spurs on the wee chick. The father is a Silkie or Silver Laced Wyandotte, and the mother is a Silkie or Orpington or Bantam or Barred Rock. A real mix.

Rowena.

 

[Tazbeaux]

It sounds like the chick may have swallowed a long thread or some other fiber that is wrapped around the tongue attachment, and extending down into the digestive tract, which is pulling on the thread. If you could find a slender tool with a slight hook on the end, such as a small crochet needle. You might be able to reach behind the tongue and catch the fiber to pull it back. if successful be sure to unwind the fiber from the tongue and don't just clip it off.

 

[Tazbeaux]

This is a tool that I got in a pedicure kit, something like this might work well.

 

[Tazbeaux]

A close up view of the tip