Chicken swallowed a metal nut- help!

[Natalie783]

I have a 20 week old Buff Orphington that has swallowed a small metal nut. I am afraid if it will cause Hardware disease. I thought about inducing the chicken to throw up its crop contents, since this happened recently and should still be in the crop, but I do not know if it could somehow rip the throat. Metal nuts are obviously rounder then pointy screws, but I still don't know if I should take the risk. I tried to do research on how to treat problems like this, but I found no results on how to fix it. Should I induce the chicken to throw up? BTW, she swallowed the nut within minutes of me posting this.

 

[sbhkma]

If it's a small metal nut, I'm of the opinion "this too shall pass". Vomiting her can cause a host of other issues like aspiration.

 

[Natalie783]

Ok. I'll watch her closely for a while to see if she shows any sign on hardware disease. Thanks for the quick response.

 

[sickchickendr]

I have a 20 week old Buff Orphington that has swallowed a small metal nut. I am afraid if it will cause Hardware disease. I thought about inducing the chicken to throw up its crop contents, since this happened recently and should still be in the crop, but I do not know if it could somehow rip the throat. Metal nuts are obviously rounder then pointy screws, but I still don't know if I should take the risk. I tried to do research on how to treat problems like this, but I found no results on how to fix it. Should I induce the chicken to throw up? BTW, she swallowed the nut within minutes of me posting this.

what was the result? I have a chicken that swallowed a washer.

 

[castlefarms]

Any follow ups here guys???

 

[Stravager]

Any follow ups here guys???

If a chicken swallows a blunt metal object it might simply pass through the digestive system. If it has sharp edges or points, like a screw, it can puncture internally and lead to death. Heavy metal poisoning, such as zinc or lead, can produce lethargy, seizures, wobbliness, loss of appetite, and pale mucous membranes as some of the symptoms. From what I understand of hardware disease there isn't a whole lot that you can do without taking X-rays and blood tests, and potentially doing surgery afterwards if there is an actual issue. Make sure the chicken has grit in their diet.
In short, if it's a blunt, non-toxic metal the chicken should be fine and if it's anything else there's not much you can do.

 

[castlefarms]

thank you - I’ll keep an eye on Ophelia my lavender Orpington. I chased her around the yard today with a metal washer in her mouth, pretty sure she swallowed it

 

[Squawkers]

thank you - I’ll keep an eye on Ophelia my lavender Orpington. I chased her around the yard today with a metal washer in her mouth, pretty sure she swallowed it

I’ve done that so many to times but I’ve learned chasing them around makes them more likely to swallow it. It’s like because you want it, it must be something good, so they hurry up and eat it before you can take it from them.