Pullet swallowed a foot of paracord.

[Birdsong 82]

I recently found out that oyster shell does not work the same as grit as far as breaking things down. But trying Grit could Help but I don’t know. Para cord’s are pretty thick. Wouldn’t hurt to try definitely

 

[Kiki]

Oyster shell is NOT grit and it doesn't do a thing for helping break anything down.
Oyster shell is purely a calcium supplement.

 

[BreanneRN]

Calcium carbonate is used in toothpaste and is the leading ingredient in most household scrubbing powders. It is an abrasive... Oyster shell is 95% calcium carbonate. Calcium is classed as a metal on the periodic table. Never said it is the same or acts the same as granite grit and didn't mean to imply "that it works the same" either. But anyone that thinks it is "just a nice soft powder" formed into those supplements you take, should walk barefoot across some broken oyster shells sometime... Or maybe tumble the oyster shells with some paracord in a rock tumbler and see what happens? Would make an interesting experiment...

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

Calcium carbonate is used in toothpaste and is the leading ingredient in most household scrubbing powders. It is an abrasive... Oyster shell is 95% calcium carbonate. Calcium is classed as a metal on the periodic table. Never said it is the same or acts the same as granite grit and didn't mean to imply "that it works the same" either. But anyone that thinks it is "just a nice soft powder" formed into those supplements you take, should walk barefoot across some broken oyster shells sometime... Or maybe tumble the oyster shells with some paracord in a rock tumbler and see what happens? Would make an interesting experiment...

Or like with the 'Kickboxer' movie with Van Damme in the final fight scene. Instead of dipping their wrapped hands into glass shards to beat each other up, dip it into oyster shells. Probably do just as much damage.

 

[Kiki]

Excellent thread explaining why oyster shell is not the same nor does the same thing as insoluble grit.
The Science Of Feeding Grit To Poultry | BackYard Chickens

 

[BreanneRN]

Excellent thread explaining why oyster shell is not the same nor does the same thing as insoluble grit.
The Science Of Feeding Grit To Poultry | BackYard Chickens

Again, never said it did.

 

[Birdsong 82]

I think she sent that thread and the response so the original poster is also aware. That’s all A lot of people are not aware that it isn’t. I wasn’t aware of that for a while so I think she just wants the OP to know

 

[Kiki]

I think she sent that thread and the response so the original poster is also aware. That’s all A lot of people are not aware that it isn’t. I wasn’t aware of that for a while so I think she just wants the OP to know

Exactly.
If I was directing it at someone in particular I would use the quote option.

 

[Eggcessive]

I have been watching this thread to see if the chicken passes the nylon paracord. My golden retriever Opie pulled a 36 inch long section of nylon carpet fiber and swallowed it after another dog barfed some ham onto that section of carpet. I saw a couple of short sections lying around that I quickly got rid of. He threw up a few times, and would not eat for a couple of days. The vet did xrays, and could not feel anything in his belly, so we thought everything was fine.

Fast forward one month, and poor Opie ate only small meals, but acted fairly normal. Then he vomited up the 36 inch wad of carpet cord. I saved it in a plastic bag for the vet to see, and he was amazed. It apparently stayed in the stomach all that time, and gastric acid had no effect on it. Chickens’ GI tracts are so different, so I hope the chicken survives this.

 

[anvia]

Nope, I never knew that! - but that was my logic at the time - thanks all- always happy to learn something new!
Our birds free range over many acres.... I can’t honestly say I control what they do or don’t eat - whatever happened I’m not honestly sure I can take any credit! - beyond attempting to keep them safe in the garden.... where they found the rope... so it’s fair to say that didn’t go very well...

Luckily my hen surivived, with zero signs of ill health - to this day I still don’t know which hen it was who ate it. I wish I could help more. All I’m saying is don’t give up hope. Ours survived what we thought was probably death sentence and a similar situation. I’d love to say I did x & y - but all I could think to do at the time was up their oyster shell in the now erroneous belief it might help break the nylon down - ,Maybe somehow it did? ? No idea - I suspect paracord is a lot tougher than twisted nylon rope - but.... who knows?
I hope this little hen survives ok - Sending positive thoughts!