Chicken ate a plastic zip tie

[Rugersmom]

Heard my chickens raising a commotion went outside to investigate and one was running around with a zip tie sticking out of her mouth. I tried to catch her but she swallowed it before I could get to her. I thought about trying to massage her crop but was afraid if it didn't come out straight she'd choke on it. Any chance she's going to survive this. Also I have two chickens that are identical and now I have no idea which of the two are the tie. We are renovating and had plumbers and AC guys out and I thought I had cleaned up the mess they left. Have checked the yard again.

 

[Henry&Friends]

@Eggcessive @aart @Texas Kiki might offer some advice?

 

[Henry&Friends]

@Eggcessive @aart @Texas Kiki might offer some advice?

@casportpony @speckledhen @chickens really @Wyorp Rock we need some chicken experts here please

 

[casportpony]

Welcome to BYC! How long ago did this happen? If it just happened you should be able to feel it in her crop or esophagus. If you can feel it, try to massage it up and out.

 

[Kiki]

I wouldn't worry too much.
Offer some grit and hopefully it just gets ground up.

 

[Rugersmom]

It was about 2 hours ago. I’ll go try to catch her

 

[Rugersmom]

I felt the crops of the two matching chickens and I can’t feel anything but the normal squishy crop feeling. One had a bit of a hard piece but it didn’t feel attached to anything. I guess all I can do is wait and see

 

[speckledhen]

They really can make us crazy. If you can't feel it for sure, then you'll just have to make sure they get some good grit and if it was mine, I'd probably add some very slippery oil, like maybe put some coconut oil on some warm soft scrambled eggs. It will stay melted in the crop due to the heat of their body. Not sure it will help keep that thing moving, but it sure can't hurt. She'll probably pass it (I hope!).We usually are flying by the seat of our pants with this stuff. I mean, you're not going to find "chicken ate a zip-tie, how to dislodge" in a book on chicken keeping, LOL.

 

[chickens really]

She will be okay. It will dissolve enough to pass I’m thinking? I’m sure mine have eaten crazy things too ..

 

[featherhead007]

My hens made sport of tearing up and eating a nylon feed bag that was buried inside the coop while I was out of town.
My kiddies remain alive and well anyways. Hope that calms your nerves.