My Chicken Just Ate a Ponytail Elastic

[StephanieC]

One of those generic black elastic hair ties. Good Lord, they eat some strange things!

Will she be ok?

 

[Wyleiria]

I had my chickens eat weird things... I dropped a rubber band once and one gobbled it up before I could get it away. My chicken was fine so hopefully yours will be too!

 

[StephanieC]

Ok, I will relax about it, then. Edgy today because we are now down to two chickens after something got one of the Orpingtons yesterday. Right out of the open chicken yard in broad daylight. Sigh...

 

[sunflour]

@StephanieC

Was it all elastic or have a metal connection? Watch her closely for a few days for impacted crop issue. Check her crop before she eats anything for the next few mornings and make sure it is small and empty. If she starts acting ill or her crop is not empty in the morning, then post under emergencies.


Bet she thought it was a worm

Hope all goes well and she just poops it out.

 

[StephanieC]

It was all elastic. Now I will have to look up how to check her crop! No clue...

 

[pineapple416]

I agree with sunflour that you should make sure her crop doesn't get impacted and post under emergencies if it gets worse. We had a hen named Dottie who got an impacted crop most likely from grass and didn't make it. Not trying to worry you, it's just good to be careful.

 

[sunflour]

@StephanieC

I also lost one of my hens to a lower intestinal impaction and don't want to get you really worried, just want you to watch yours closely. Thought mine had an impacted crop but the impaction was lower down.

Here's a link to impacted crops: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/impacted-slow-and-sour-crops-prevention-and-treatments

If you feel to the right side of the breast muscle - that's the crop.

Here's link to anatomy of where to find the crop: https://www.backyardchickens.com/g/i/4686175/a/6130040/uploads/

If it is enlarged, it will be very obvious and feel like a balloon.