Pullet swallowed a foot of paracord.

[MissChick@dee]

I’ve never been so happy to hear about chick poop-ever !!!! God is Good

 

[BreanneRN]

I would try to get her to eat just regular food or vegetable matter now. Fiber in the vegetable matter will help push the cord along, help prevent blockage. Cheese is probably not a good idea, as it is very low fiber. And the time for mineral oil is probably past too. Mineral oil can interfere with absorption of nutrients since it is indigestible itself. Now, it is still a waiting game. As long as she feels well and is eating and drinking, all is well. If she develops an impaction, she will stop eating and drinking. Give her a little canned pumpkin or spinach if you have it (very high fiber), add a little olive oil or butter.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Nylon cord does not absorb. It does not digest. Smudge ya did good fella. Lube (0il) is a GREAT idea anyway you can trick her to consume it, go for it. I do not know it all. I learn something new everyday. Still praying for you and your lil chick.

 

[BreanneRN]

Nylon cord does not absorb. It does not digest. Smudge ya did good fella. Lube (0il) is a GREAT idea anyway you can trick her to consume it, go for it. I do not know it all. I learn something new everyday. Still praying for you and your lil chick.

Of course nylon cord will not digest. No one said that it would! The chick still needs to pass the cord out, and fiber will help her do that. In the meantime, she still needs nutrition from her food, and mineral oil will, to a degree, block her absorption of nutrients. She is a baby and needs those nutrients to grow and survive. Cheese is low residue, low fiber, constipating, does not stimulate movement in the digestive tract.

 

[Birdsong 82]

I think the main focus now is getting that para cord out. Pumpkin is a great idea. It would be easy to mix oil in it. Very high fiber. And if my dog gets backed up I gave her a couple tablespoons and leave the door open for her to go out when she pleases and it is good at getting her moving again. I wouldn’t want to feed her anything too thick like bread or anything like that . I can understand you wanting to get her nutrition but I think it’s OK if nutrition isnt perfect for one or two days as long as you were trying to help her pass that cord. She still doing good?

 

[MissChick@dee]

(In my best Caveman voice)
Cheese Good (in moderation)
Spinach Bad (look it up)
Encouragement Good
Judgement Bad
*try to see people doing the best they can with what they have*

 

[BreanneRN]

(In my best Caveman voice)
Cheese Good (in moderation)
Spinach Bad (look it up)
Encouragement Good
Judgement Bad
*try to see people doing the best they can with what they have*

Please specify for the OP just how much cheese would be "moderation" for a 4 1/2 wk old pullet in danger of impaction... spinach is only "bad" because if over eaten, it can reduce calcium absorption in laying hens. Sorry you feel my posts are "judgemental"... ( I'll resist the urge to comment on yours...) We both want a good outcome for this young bird. I would not have said anything about cheese if I did not think it was a serious mistake. I get that you don't, so we will agree to disagree.

 

[smudge]

Update: She is still alive, alert, talkative and ready to go on the lam at a moments notice.

There's no sign of the paracord coming out yet. She is eating and pooping. I had her outside on the lawn in my portable isolation pen and she pooped 3 times in half an hour. She also was very interested in the insect life.

She's not shown much interest in the pumpkin, but she has pecked at it a little. Of course, she's also little, so it's hard to gauge. But she was alternating between that, crumbles, and water.

She's generally too interested in treats, even before eating the paracord. Even egg. But a few shreds of Mozerella under some oil meant that she'd get some oil in - kind of like the way you get kids in beginner swim classes to go under water by having them fetch toys from the bottom in shallow water. This chicken is half Fayoumi, so is less tame than average.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Glad to hear it Smudge! All things considered she sounds happy. You just never know with chickens. Still praying for y’all. Thanks for the update.

 

[Kiki]

Good news...keep it coming!