Help 11 week old with string wrapped around tounge!

[csaylorchickens]

I went out to the coop to turn the fans off and I noticed that one of the buff orpington chicks was sitting inside the coop painting with a piece of string hanging out her mouth. Just two days prior I noticed she had a long piece of grass stuck in her throat and I pulled it out and that was the end of it. But apparently it was not and she had a piece of blue string hanging out I pulled on the blue string and it was tied strictly around her tongue and it had been there for a few days cutting the circulation off. I did the best I could and cut the string off but I don't know if there's any further in her crop. Her crop is empty so she obviously hasnt been eating and he is skinny i can tell she has lost weight. After i undid the string she stood there with her wings out so i put her in the cat carrier with food and water. What else do I do?

 

[csaylorchickens]

And her tounge is swollen and bruised

 

[Eggcessive]

If you can get some water with electrolytes down her with a dropper very slowly to get her re-hydrated, since she probably is very weak. Hopefully her tongue is still alive, but some chickens have lost much of their tongues in similar accidents. Tube feeding may be something you would want to try, so search at the top of this page for "go team tube feeding." Add some water to some chicken feed, and stir in some yogurt and raw egg to make a runny cereal to see if she can eat and get fluids at the same time. Let us know how she is doing tomorrow.

 

[csaylorchickens]

It was about half her tounge and it left an inde t but maybe theres hope it will heal. I tried offering her stuff but she wasnt having it. I put her back in the coop with her gals and will check on her in the morning. Ill take her in to the vet if i think she isnt ok. He is an awesome vet and loves chickens. Fingers crossed she is ok. She is also the chicken my neighbors little girl picked out to keep i have 6 11 week old and can only keep 4.

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you tell if the tip of her tongue is pink, or is it dark? Many chickens will eat when they have another for company. As long as she has a bowl of feed mixed with water (like a thin oatmeal) that will help her eat and get fluids. Here is a link to many threads about this sort of injury that you may want to read: https://www.backyardchickens.com/newsearch?search=string+around+tongue

 

[csaylorchickens]

Her tounge tip is pink upon inspection this am. I gave her a whole can of tuna with water in it. She loves watermelon so at the store im going to get a few for her as well. She deffinately isnt eating the crumble right nkw but after the tuna her crop is nice and full. So i think she will be ok. I am going to seperate her twice a day to specifically watch her eat tu a and watermelon then put her baxk with the flock. One hen is broody right now so she can keep her company in the broody break twice a day

 

[csaylorchickens]

Im lucky that i was able to use a paper clip, i had to pull on the string hard enough to expose the part it was wrapped around got a pair of small scissors and pull the string away from the tounge and cut the string loose. Only thing to worry about now is her crop i dont know if she got string in the crop or not.

 

[Eggcessive]

Egg mixed with yogurt and chick feed with water added is usually attractive to chickens. Good that she is eating, hopefully she is drinking too.

 

[csaylorchickens]

Egg mixed with yogurt and chick feed with water added is usually attractive to chickens. Good that she is eating, hopefully she is drinking too.

I cant tell if she is drinking. I tried to remove her from the flock she wouldnt touch any food or water. I.put her back she ate the crap out of the watermelon and tuna. I.figure she is getting some hydration from the watermelon. This morning her crop was 1/4 full before i gave tuna and watermelon so maybe she is eating crumble a bit. She has a bruise on her right nasal area, i presume from the pulling on her tounge. She looks good perky still and running around. So i think its hopeful. Ill try yogurt and egg mixture in a bit.

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds like she will eat and drink better when she is with the others. I'm really hoping that she survives this.