I’m thinking this isn’t going to turn out okay

[BellaLunaTick]

We have a hen, Persephone. She’s about a year old, a golden comet. I picked her up today to see her, flipped her on her back, and noticed what looked like a screw poking out of her lower abdomen. I took hold of it, and, sure enough, it IS a screw. Pointy end out, flat end inside her. Which has got to mean she ate it, and it has perforated her guts and worked part of the way out. She is not in pain. She’s eating, playing, laying, etc. there is no blood, no apparent scabbing, nothing gory. We’ve seen no unusual droppings. We can’t afford to take her to a vet. So I guess my question is this—cull her, or just leave her be, since she doesn’t act like she’s hurting? See if we can borrow bolt cutters and trim it down to as short as we can? Or just leave it alone? It’s protruding about 3/4 of an inch.

I hate this.

 

[Shadrach]

We have a hen, Persephone. She’s about a year old, a golden comet. I picked her up today to see her, flipped her on her back, and noticed what looked like a screw poking out of her lower abdomen. I took hold of it, and, sure enough, it IS a screw. Pointy end out, flat end inside her. Which has got to mean she ate it, and it has perforated her guts and worked part of the way out. She is not in pain. She’s eating, playing, laying, etc. there is no blood, no apparent scabbing, nothing gory. We’ve seen no unusual droppings. We can’t afford to take her to a vet. So I guess my question is this—cull her, or just leave her be, since she doesn’t act like she’s hurting? See if we can borrow bolt cutters and trim it down to as short as we can? Or just leave it alone? It’s protruding about 3/4 of an inch.

I hate this.

I don't blame you. I would hate that as well.
I don't think you can risk pulling it out, especially given you don't know how long it is and what head it has. The chances of doing irreparable damage are just to high.
I think I would cut it off as close to the skin as possible and cross my fingers.
I would check to make sure that you can't feel the head of the screw just below the skin.
There is a chance, I know it's a very slim chance, that she has settled on the screw at some point and the head has penetrated her skin from the outside. It's worth having a really good investigation for this possibility even though she won't like it.
I'm not a praying man but I do wish you well.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

If it were me, I would trim it down and do a course of antibiotics. Good luck!

 

[townchicks]

I'm with the trim it down group.Not all the way, so you can keep a close eye on the area around it. Trying to remove it could cause more damage. If she's eating and drinking and does not act like she's painful, no need to cull until things change. Animals live with pellets, BBs or bullets inside them all the time, it gets walled off by scar tissue and they're fine. The concern here, obviously, is internal damage/ peritonitis/infection. She seems to have gotten past that, depending how long the screw is. I would just watch her closely, for now. Another option, if you have a veterinary college near you, I would try to talk them into an x-ray for free, as a teaching moment. These places charge for treatment, but if you are persuasive, maybe they'll go for it, as long as you are not also asking for treatment. Then you would know how long the screw is, and be able to predict if more damage is likely. It's worth a shot, no charge for asking. Good luck, please keep us posted.

 

[Chef JimmyJ]

There are many animals and Humans with metal in their bodies. The body may just cover the head with scar tissue and go about living with no further issue. I agree to investigate further to see if the Screw is just under the Skin and if not, trim it, half way, then see what happens. No sense in culling if the Chicken seems normal in every other way. I hope you get a positive result. Your Chicken will have a Cool Story to tell the Grandpeeps...JJ

 

[BellaLunaTick]

We have a hen, Persephone. She’s about a year old, a golden comet. I picked her up today to see her, flipped her on her back, and noticed what looked like a screw poking out of her lower abdomen. I took hold of it, and, sure enough, it IS a screw. Pointy end out, flat end inside her. Which has got to mean she ate it, and it has perforated her guts and worked part of the way out. She is not in pain. She’s eating, playing, laying, etc. there is no blood, no apparent scabbing, nothing gory. We’ve seen no unusual droppings. We can’t afford to take her to a vet. So I guess my question is this—cull her, or just leave her be, since she doesn’t act like she’s hurting? See if we can borrow bolt cutters and trim it down to as short as we can? Or just leave it alone? It’s protruding about 3/4 of an inch.

I hate this.

I have pics. She has a large lump north of the screw--above and to the right when you have her belly up and butt toward you. It's not red or hot, feels like maybe impaction. Getting cutters in the morning.

 

[Peppercorngal]

I would definitely cut the screw off. If the screw is not galvanized it will rust away. Happens with fish and hooks left in fishes all the time. Not sure about the lump. If you have a small syringe and needle, like for insulin injection, swab the spot with alcohol and gently insert the needle just a bit. Pull back on the syringe slowly and gently, holding the chicken and the needle very still. If it's an abscess or liquid, draw out as much as you can. If it is not, just remove the needle. After you take out the needle re-swab the puncture with alcohol. She should be fine. Leave her to eat and drink and live the life of a hen! Outside of a vet there is little else you can do. If you have any antibiotics, I'd give her a dose for 10 days and add vitamins in the water (for the entire flock). Keep us posted.

 

[Steven Bussell]

Are you sure its not just matted in her feathers

 

[Peppercorngal]

Are you sure its not just matted in her feathers

C'mon, I'm sure the chicken was examined carefully when this was found.

 

[BellaLunaTick]

Are you sure its not just matted in her feathers

Positive. I thoroughly explored.