I let my 6 week old chicks out into my fenced front yard to "play" today and had an odd occurance. Luckily I was right there with them and saw it happen. My chow mix dog is shedding big time right now, and I was watching the chicks playing with a tuft of dog hair and chasing each other, trying to take it from one of my black australorp pullets. She suddenly became very distressed and was silently gagging on the dog hair! I went to help her, thinking she had swallowed a long strand, but when I pulled on it, it was caught on her tongue! Even for as many chickens as I have processed, I have never taken a look inside a chicken's beak before. I had no idea that the back of their tongues are like little harpoons! The hair was stuck on the spikey parts. I was able to cut the fuzz with sissors and she was able to dislodge the small remainder from there. I am afraid she would have choked to death if I hadn't been there to help her. Just passing this on as a word to the wise...be careful what you let your babies play with. It's a lot like watching after my 2 year old!
