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

[Eggcessive]

So glad that you found the string. Hopefully she will get stronger now, and will be able to eat normally.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Update:

I really hope this helps someone in the future with maybe the same or similar issue.
My daughter and I checked the chick that we are calling Blondie and the tongue/trachea are even further down the throat! The video is here..

But the real update of the day is that the poor chick was breathing and gasping for air so bad I thought it was dying so out came the crochet hook again and I got a second pair of hands to hold a light and a third pair to hold the chicken and I had a really good look around the hole that the tongue completely disappeared into.

To do this I used my cell phone on video as there's a really bright light, and the video isn't great but at some point I'll try and upload it to youtube to show you on here.

I was surprised that I was able after a few attempts to fish the tongue and trachea out of the hole and into the area I could see it in a bit better. Then about 3 minutes later as I'm pulling all kinds of gunky mucus away from the throat and tongue area there was (and I can't believe it myself) a loop of white cotton.
Cotton.
A loop of cotton around the tongue somewhere that I hooked the crochet hook and didn't let go for dear life. The third person was my daughter and she ran to get scissors and we all cursed the vet for not seeing the cotton. It was really thin though. We got the cotton free and pulled the tongue up further into the mouth with tweezers and now Blondie is sleeping with beak closed nice and calm not gasping.

View attachment 1575435

I am really really hoping that this is all of it and that Blondie can recover from this.
Thanks again for reading and helping!

Rowena.

Good work! I'm glad you didn't give up. I hope she recovers quickly.

 

[andreanar]

Great! I figured it had to be something like that pulling her tongue backwards. Hope she bounces back now.

 

[townchicks]

YAY! You get the best chicken mom of the year award, at least in my book!

 

[lena_]

Great work! So happy that Blondie is doing well!

 

[wyancrazy]

Great! I figured it had to be something like that pulling her tongue backwards. Hope she bounces back now.

Yes I thought so too especially after the tongue went even further down and disappered. I hope you can see on the video that it's just one hole I could see and I had to fish the tongue up out of there. Poor thing was probably so close to death I figured I'd try rather than kick myself later. It's still not out of the woods but does look better this morning.

Rowena.

 

[wyancrazy]

Great work! So happy that Blondie is doing well!

Thanks Feather, came out this morning and she/he is standing on the food bowl!

Rowena.

 

[wyancrazy]

YAY! You get the best chicken mom of the year award, at least in my book!

Thanks! I just didn't want to see the little one suffering.

Rowena.

 

[wyancrazy]

Update time:
This morning the wee chick Blondie was standing on the food bowl looking like it was picking up food and when I walked near the chick ran to the door of the hutch. What a difference to the eye closed hunched over chick from the last few days. Blondie is still crying and complaining a little, but at least interested in the food again. There is a visible lump in the neck to the chick's left side just under the jaw, which I'm not sure what that is but thinking maybe swelling after cotton being caught so long around the tongue. I'll give the medicine and have a look when the other hands become available. I'm just so happy to see the change in the chick and happy to let her/him peck at the food and walk around like normal again. Oh my goodness what a whirlwind few days!

The other funny thing is that now Blondie is up and walking around again, the other wee chick we've been calling Blackie ( I know, how original!) is now chirping like before as if to say "give me some attention" which we do. He/she gets cuddles cause they are so tiny and we like to make sure they are warm. Also just because Blackie still fits perfectly in your closed hand and goes to sleep like which gives us some quiet for a while.

Thanks for reading and watching everyone, just goes to show that you shouldn't give up and I know he /she might still not make it but does look a whole lot better today.

Rowena.

 

[ChickNanny13]

You may want to wet Blondie's feed, like a mush, maybe easier going down. Throat's probably bruised & sore. Glad you had the help & did what you had to, saved it's life for sure. Thank you for the update