Chicken ate Head Band - the large kind

[lisaschon]

I have only had my girls since February (New Hampshire Reds). We got them as chicks and they have been pampered pets ever since.

My 9 year old son was playing in the garden with my daughters head band. Yes it was the elastic type that go over your head and behind your ears. Mrs Skinny, as we call her because she is not so curvy as the rest, ran up, grabbed it. My son tried to get it from her but she swallowed it.

What do I do? I couldn't see anything or feel anything. Not that I know what to feel for anyway.

I have read the other threads on Headbands, but this was a big one, about 5mm wide and big enough to stretch round a 5 year olds head.

Is there a way to get them to regurgitate the contents of their crop. I have tried to find a thread explaining this (if possible) but couldn't find it.

Or do I just wait and see what happens.

Any suggestions to help 'Mrs Skinny' would be appreciated.

Lisa

 

[jenni2142]

Do not try to get her to regurgitate. I would think wait and see or maybe a little oil to slick things up. Watch for any odd behavior and update. If nothing else this is a bump so maybe an expert may see.

 

[PineBurrowPeeps]

This is one time that I would isolate the bird and feed her some bread. The dense doughy food will help push it through her digestive tract. Be aware though, that she may need help passing it through the other end, you might see it hanging out of her vent and her straining, you would need to grab it and not pull, but apply steady light downward pressure while she pushes it out.

 

[lisaschon]

Thanks for the quick replies.

Oil, Bread and isolate then watch (and hope) that she passes it through.

I had better put together an isolation unit tomorrow. Somewhere, somehow.

Thank you so very much.

Any idea how long things take to go through their digestive tract?

Lisa

 

[lisaschon]

I just thought I would give everyone an update. I never managed to set up an isolation unit. But kept a close eye on the suspected culprit.

It has been a week now and no sign of the head band. All my girls are fine. I will obviously keep my eye on them for any signs of ill health but so far, fingers crossed, they are all fine.

I keep looking for a glittery gold 6" long chicken poop but haven't seen it yet. But after reading about the greenhouse plastic sheeting ( on another post - evidentally strips of the stuff when missing and a chicken was seen with a strip in its beak, but it have never been seen again months later), it doesn't surprise me.

I will keep you posted and again thank you for the advice.

Lisa

 

[redhen]

Glad everythings okay so far!

Good luck!

 

[Judy]

I imagine it got ground up in the gizzard and came out in tiny bits. There was also a thread here about that happening, with something pink, I think.

Amazing what they can ingest and get away with. Never let them near styrofoam peanuts! (Though they get processed just fine, too.)

 

[Maryallison]

wow, hard to believe a chicken would eat a headband. I am so glad she is ok.

 

[lisaschon]

Didn't get away with it. Problems ahead....

Yesterday she was still fine. This morning however she is very shaky on her legs and keeps sitting down. When she does sit down she sort of rolls over slightly.

I spoke to a friend of mine who said she thought it was toxic poisoning and that there was nothing I could do now. She said it will just get worse and worse (start having fits etc...) and that if I took her to a vet they would put her down, or I could do it myself.

We have separated her from the others as they just walked all over her, bless her. I must admit that this toxic poisoning does sound logical though.

Any thoughts - quickly please

Is it worth doing the crop operation - or is it too late for that if it had already started being digested and rejected by her little body.

 

[NotTheMomma]

Sadly I don't think crop surgery will do any good. The hair band is most likely in the intestines and blocking her from pooping. Thus causing a buildup of toxins within her body. You could try sitting her in a warm water bath and seeing if the vent relaxes enough that you could see the band, but I'm doubting that's going to help either.

I'm sorry hun. I just don't know what could be done to get this out of her, short of surgery on the intestines, and even that I doubt would save her. HUGS! I'm sorry.