Emergency. Can a 5 wo chick with no tongue survive? Further issues.

[chickenzoo]

If you were going to do that I would just go ahead an tube feed her. I would be afraid it would just get caught up near her airway without a tongue to maneuver it if it moved wrong. But if it comes to dire situation....try it.

 

[Demosthine]

Personally, I would cull this chick. Unlike many of the other conditions, a missing or deformed tongue is not something that can be treated. It will be a lifelong concern and you could very well come home to find her dead from choking on the food, just as ChickenZoo mentioned. If you let her live and become attached, I'm afraid it would be more devastating for you. Just from that simple read, it sounds like you are a very concerned, passionate keeper. And although that has it's benefits, I think that would make loosing her at a later time much more difficult.

I'm fairly new to chicken keeping, but I would assume that it will always take her longer to eat than the other girls and may very well be at the bottom of the pecking order. I believe this will always put her at a feeding deficiency and that she will never truly thrive. I have a different belief in this than many on here. I would prefer to breed out the weaknesses and diseases by culling. You will end up with a much healthier, happier and stronger flock that way.

Just my two-cents, and I apologize if this offends anyone.

 

[sarahannecloud9]

If you were going to do that I would just go ahead an tube feed her. I would be afraid it would just get caught up near her airway without a tongue to maneuver it if it moved wrong. But if it comes to dire situation....try it.

I went ahead and took the risk and she did awsome! I can not believe I didn't think it was possible! I rummaged through my supplies and found a long tip syringe. I'll use the tubeing when MIL get's it to me though. It was a breeze. Thanks so much.

Personally, I would cull this chick. Unlike many of the other conditions, a missing or deformed tongue is not something that can be treated. It will be a lifelong concern and you could very well come home to find her dead from choking on the food, just as ChickenZoo mentioned. If you let her live and become attached, I'm afraid it would be more devastating for you. Just from that simple read, it sounds like you are a very concerned, passionate keeper. And although that has it's benefits, I think that would make loosing her at a later time much more difficult.

I'm fairly new to chicken keeping, but I would assume that it will always take her longer to eat than the other girls and may very well be at the bottom of the pecking order. I believe this will always put her at a feeding deficiency and that she will never truly thrive. I have a different belief in this than many on here. I would prefer to breed out the weaknesses and diseases by culling. You will end up with a much healthier, happier and stronger flock that way.

Just my two-cents, and I apologize if this offends anyone.

No offence taken! I too normally would put down an animal in simular instances. However this little girl is different. She managed to make it to now 6 weeks. I have a plan if she recovers. She can be housed with the flock fine. I hand feed and free range. She won't be able to have many of the treats like pumpkins. But, when it's feeding time, she can have her food safe in the pen since I feed the others in front of the barn/out-building. She will be able to take all the time needed. I won't hatch her eggs for fear it could be passed on. I did throw around the idea. It won't take that much time to do this plan when she's older. I may very well go out to gind her choked. It's a risk in this one case I'll take though. She will need constant care atm. I'm willing though. She's doing so much better. She's not in pain, which is my #1 reasion to put down, and quality of life for sure. She does well with the others and to my amazement has made it this far without assistance. I'll (if she makes it) continue to grind her food and make large batches. I'm not very optimistic, but hopefull. She is doing so well. I greatly appriceate your input. I do see so many chicken Momas drag things out when the best thing to do for the chicken is to put it down. I worked as a vet tech for a while (before i changed my major to humans, lol) and saw this every day with all animals. So I did weigh all of the concerns like, pain, pecking order, feeding seperate, time, attatchment, choking risk, and most important for her, quality of life. If she makes it 2 years she will have lived a happy life.

 

[Ostolasa chicky mom]

I went ahead and took the risk and she did awsome! I can not believe I didn't think it was possible! I rummaged through my supplies and found a long tip syringe. I'll use the tubeing when MIL get's it to me though. It was a breeze. Thanks so much.

No offence taken! I too normally would put down an animal in simular instances. However this little girl is different. She managed to make it to now 6 weeks. I have a plan if she recovers. She can be housed with the flock fine. I hand feed and free range. She won't be able to have many of the treats like pumpkins. But, when it's feeding time, she can have her food safe in the pen since I feed the others in front of the barn/out-building. She will be able to take all the time needed. I won't hatch her eggs for fear it could be passed on. I did throw around the idea. It won't take that much time to do this plan when she's older. I may very well go out to gind her choked. It's a risk in this one case I'll take though. She will need constant care atm. I'm willing though. She's doing so much better. She's not in pain, which is my #1 reasion to put down, and quality of life for sure. She does well with the others and to my amazement has made it this far without assistance. I'll (if she makes it) continue to grind her food and make large batches. I'm not very optimistic, but hopefull. She is doing so well. I greatly appriceate your input. I do see so many chicken Momas drag things out when the best thing to do for the chicken is to put it down. I worked as a vet tech for a while (before i changed my major to humans, lol) and saw this every day with all animals. So I did weigh all of the concerns like, pain, pecking order, feeding seperate, time, attatchment, choking risk, and most important for her, quality of life. If she makes it 2 years she will have lived a happy life.

I have the same problem going on five weeks now. I considered culling… Other than having to hand feed her she does everything the other chicks do. Scratches runs stretches her wings full of energy full of life. The thought of taking her life because she’s not able to eat freaks me out a bit. She is very needy and she is very attached. It’s a hard decision. Mine has a tongue but the tip just looks like it’s dry and dying. Good luck!

 

[Eggcessive]

I have the same problem going on five weeks now. I considered culling… Other than having to hand feed her she does everything the other chicks do. Scratches runs stretches her wings full of energy full of life. The thought of taking her life because she’s not able to eat freaks me out a bit. She is very needy and she is very attached. It’s a hard decision. Mine has a tongue but the tip just looks like it’s dry and dying. Good luck!

This is a rather old thread, so it would be great if you could start a brand new thread. Do you have any pictures? Is there a hair or tiny piece of string that has become wrapped around the tongue, and then swallowed? Have you tried feeding moistened chick feed and bits of scrambled egg?