Chicken ate earring back

[Artichoke Lover]

They should be fine. I’ve had chickens swallow nails and screws without incident in the past. (Not suggesting it’s safe to leave nails or screws where they can get it but I dropped a couple while repairing the coop and they rolled in the run) Just keep an eye out for a crop obstruction. If it makes it through the crop alright it should be just fine.

 

[Chicken Quest]

I had this EXACT thing happen. It was with a 5/6 week old. And I was terrified. I didn’t know if they ate it or lost it at first. I finally found it in their poop, after a few days, no issues. I gave them coconut oil to help lubricate it and pass easy. And all was well.

I’ve seen chickens eat broken glass and be ok. (They pooped out rounded tumbled glass it was crazy) so watch them, make sure their crop is empty in the morning for the next few days, but don’t freak out.

Great so it's nothing to be worried about, like the rubber band.

 

[Opiumbrella]

Great so it's nothing to be worried about, like the rubber band.

Yea. I wouldn’t worry. If a baby can pass them ok, it is likely an adult will be just fine. It’s not sharp, and they poop bigger rocks than that their whole life.

 

[Chicken Quest]

I've read Flo's hatchalong her poops were huge!

@All4Eggz (Sorry for the Poop Photo)

 

[Opiumbrella]

I've read Flo's hatchalong her poops were huge!
View attachment 3152683
@All4Eggz (Sorry for the Poop Photo)

Oh man. I went into my coop earlier and was like WTF is that smell???? It was so bad. My broody had gotten up and went poop in the corner of her pen, and it was HUGE and SMELLED SO BAD. Like made me gag. And I deal with their poop and donkey poop daily. Doesn’t ever bug me. But man, broody poops are a whole thing.

 

[bill3607]

I had a pullet eat a 1 1/4 inch wood screw and she is now almost a 2 year old hen doing fine.

I think they eat a lot of things

 

[Gwhite3678]

Thank you everyone for the replies!! I’m a bit of a worry wart and am new to chickens but you all made me feel much better. So thankful for this site!

 

[U_Stormcrow]

One of my chickens ate a 1/4" stainless steel nut I dropped while working on a project outside. I've never seen the nut again, and the chicken is doing just fine. That was months ago. I probably would have done more damage to her attempting crop surgery than by watching and waiting. (and, I admit, hoping - poultry illness/injury is NOT my strong point). Eventually I'll cull her, and if the nut is still there, I'll get a photo for the community.

 

[arizona_chicken_noob]

I'm not happy about it but my chickens got into some broken tempered glass (tiny squares) and I know this because it was pooped out in their run! Just like @Opiumbrella said.

I'm always trying to improve safety but they seem to be pretty resilient when it comes to be non-food items. Mine go after some really weird stuff and thankfully it hasn't bit us yet.

 

[Opiumbrella]

I'm not happy about it but my chickens got into some broken tempered glass (tiny squares) and I know this because it was pooped out in their run! Just like @Opiumbrella said.

I'm always trying to improve safety but they seem to be pretty resilient when it comes to be non-food items. Mine go after some really weird stuff and thankfully it hasn't bit us yet.

We had a stray rock hit our window when we were having a vehicle towed from our driveway. And it SHATTERED. and they ran right to it, and one ate some before i could scare them away. It happens. You can’t make sure every single particle of everything is cleaned up. No matter how hard you try.