HELP!!! 3 week old Brahma chick with string around tongue.

[Lizz9311]

I don't now how she managed to do it as I'm certain I checked the blanket covering our brooder numerous times for any loose threads, but one of our Brahma chicks managed to find the sole loose string and get it stuck around her tongue!

It must have happened some time during the night as she had been tugging on it enough to cause her tongue to start bleeding. I had to cut her loose and now have a good 2 - 3 inch string hanging out of her mouth.

Is there some trick to removing this string without causing her any further damage?

Please and thank you for any insight into my dilemma this morning!

 

[sumi]

I've had a similar experience with my chicks, except it wasn't string, it was a hair! Get someone to hold the chick for you and open it's beak. Check around which part of it's tongue the string got wrapped and, if needed, very carefully pull the chick's tongue out so you can get to it. If the string's firmly stuck get a small pair of scissors and try and cut it loose. Chickens unfortunately have really strange shaped tongues, you'll see what I mean when you get to work on this one. Good luck!

 

[Lizz9311]

I've had a similar experience with my chicks, except it wasn't string, it was a hair! Get someone to hold the chick for you and open it's beak. Check around which part of it's tongue the string got wrapped and, if needed, very carefully pull the chick's tongue out so you can get to it. If the string's firmly stuck get a small pair of scissors and try and cut it loose. Chickens unfortunately have really strange shaped tongues, you'll see what I mean when you get to work on this one. Good luck!

Thank you. Yes, while examining the damage she did to herself I did notice the strange shape of the tongue. It will prove interesting when trying to remove the string.

Second question, after I remove the string, should I keep her in isolation for a day or two to make sure she's eating and drinking on her own? (You know, no major damage done and what-not.)

 

[sumi]

That's why I suggested cutting the string. Their tongues make things like this difficult and it's so easy to hurt them. Gosh, I was a nervous wreck after I freed mine.

 

[Lizz9311]

That's why I suggested cutting the string. Their tongues make things like this difficult and it's so easy to hurt them. Gosh, I was a nervous wreck after I freed mine.

Just wanted to update you... it actually took 3 people to get the string out, but we got it! (One person to hold the chick, another to hold the beak open, and then I pulled out the tongue and cut/removed the string.) She's eating and drinking fine, plus there is no blood, but I'm keeping her in her "triage cage" over-night to be sure she's well enough to return to the brooder with the rest of the chicks.

Thanks again for your input!

 

[sumi]

Oh my. Well I'm glad to hear you got it out and she's doing well.

 

[Mmmatt13]

Sorry to hijack this thread, but I have a 6 day old guinea keet who has a string wrapped around its tongue VERY tight... The tip of the tongue is discolored and dried out. I can't see where the string is, it must be indented in from the poor thing pulling to try to get away.. I'm not sure what to do at this point because her mouth is so small and the string is so tight..

 

[chooks4life]

For birds and string adventures I bought embroidery scissors. The sort that you squeeze to cut with, small scissor thingies with big blades that narrow to tiny tips. I've saved some natives with string bound feet with them, and expect them to be awesomely handy for many situations. I'm prepared now, lol! They would be ideal for your situation with the keet, Mmmaddie13.

 

[Lizz9311]

Sorry to hijack this thread, but I have a 6 day old guinea keet who has a string wrapped around its tongue VERY tight... The tip of the tongue is discolored and dried out. I can't see where the string is, it must be indented in from the poor thing pulling to try to get away.. I'm not sure what to do at this point because her mouth is so small and the string is so tight..

No problem! Hijack away!

I don't know how your keet is doing, but that sounds exactly what happened to my chick. I had a pair of small sewing scissors and with the help of 2 other people (to hold the bird and open the beak for me), I was able to locate and snip the thread. The chick is now 8 1/2 weeks old and doing wonderfully!

If you have folks that can help secure the bird while you remove the thread, it'll go a lot easier and make it much simpler to locate the thread.

 

[Mmmatt13]

My chick is doing well. I couldn't see the part of the thread that was actually wrapped around the tongue, so I snipped it as close to the tongue as I could and hoped for the best. The chick was uncomfortable and had a bit of a tough time eating (from the swelling I guess) for a couple days, but I just checked on him today and it appears the dead part of his tongue has fallen off. He is just as lively as the others and is about the same size I'd say. So he/she is doing well! Thank you.