Neighbors Left Me in charge of Chicks, Chick is hurt, please help!

if there's any string still around the tongue, it will HAVE TO COME OFF! Immediately remove ALL string from the coop or run; string and chickens is a deadly combination.

 

String is very dangerous! Yes, they have tongues and if you don't get it off, the tongue will swell and the chick won't be able to breathe. Neighbor did that to the chick himself, sadly.

 

if you have any available, try using small blade scissors like embroidery scissors, or if anyone in your house sews, try CAREFULLY using a seam ripper/buttonhole knife to CAREFULLY cut the thread. Did I mention CAREFULLY?

 

I pick up every tiny bit of string I can find around this place so that won't happen. She did the opposite of what she should have. Now, if you can get a seam ripper, cuticle scissors, or any small scissors and get that off before his breath is cut off, we'll all feel better. You may need another pair of hands to help, though.

 

I'm guessing she must be a new chicken owner. Chickens can die from ingesting string (as can just about any other animal); it can get entangled in the digestive tract and cause loss of blood flow, or can form a bowel obstruction. As you have just learned firsthand, it can get wrapped around the tongue and cause swelling, which in turn can restrict breathing to the point of suffocation.

 

I was sewing recently with new chicks on my lap- one of them got the thread tied around her tongue.

It took three of us to get it off.

Take the bird inside, wrap it in a towel with the head out, have someone hold the bird still.

Have another person open the beak

With a fine pair of scissors, pull the thread so you can get it away from the tongue a bit, and then cut.

Give the chick water with poly vi sol or other immune stimulating/ supporting goodies- your choice.

Monitor all night for swelling, you may have to dropper feed the chick water tonight, depending on the severity.

GOOD LUCK, let me know how bad it is. I imagine it will be too traumatic, or difficult to get a pic, but- you know how we BYCer's are