Pullet may have eaten a shard of glass

[kristenm1975]

My 24 week old white leghorn pullet found a piece of glass that was about 3/4 of an inch long and about 1/2 an inch wide and started trying to eat it. She was having trouble pick it up, as it as also about 1/2 an inch thick and just a bit too big to easily swallow. She was in her pen and not near any entrance so I didn't know how to get it away from her. I looked for a thin stick to poke through the 1/2 inch hardware cloth and out of her reach but by the time I turned back, it had disappeared, either in her mouth or back into the dust where she found it.

Is there anything I should do to help her pass that through without injury or is it too late to help at this point?

 

[Pullet Surprise]

I have no idea if this will work, but ages ago I was told if an animal may have eaten anything sharp, feed it bread, as the bread kinda gums up around the sharp thing. It could be an old wive's tale, but I did use it on a dog once and there was no problem. I really have no idea if it's for real or works for chickens as they have crops and grit etc. before it gets to the GI track. How thick of a piece was it? For one thing though, I don't think you want them to regurgitate as it may do damage coming out. I hope someone else on here has a better idea of what to do with chickens. You might try sifting through the dirt to see if you can fine the shard, which would be a big relief! Good luck.

 

[kristenm1975]

Thank you for the suggestion!! Makes sense to me. I have just the bread for the job too. Potato bread from the store that's so gooey it sticks to the top of my mouth when I take a bite. Totally worth a try!

 

[Habibs Hens]

if the shard of glass manages to saftly go to the gizzard then it will be ok it will rub against the other grit stones and smooth out and act as a grit stone itself