She ate a screw

[McChics]

We were putting gutters up on the pole barn when one of our girls zipped in and swollowed a 3/8" self piercing metal screw. Couldn't get her to spit it up.

Two days later and she is clearly not happy. I checked her vent last night. She had an egg in there and I can feel the screw. But there is a membrane of some sort between where I can feel it and the screw. She has been staying mostly in the nestimg box and is pretty docile.

Not sure what to do but pray and wait.

 

[Eggcessive]

Many chickens will swallow objects they see on the ground. Sometimes the metal, glass, or other objects remain inside the gizzard, but piecing the intestinal wall or damage to the gizzard is always a possibility. It might help to place her in a crate with a nest, food and water, for a day or two to check if it comes out. Here are many threads on this subject:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/724155/have-your-chickens-ever-eaten-screws
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1011944/help-one-of-my-buff-orpington-hens-ate-a-screw
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1051991/help-i-think-my-chicken-ate-a-screw-what-do-i-do
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...hing-your-chickens-have-eaten-or-tried-to-eat
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/452072/what-is-the-wierdest-thing-your-birds-ate-passed

 

[McChics]

Took her to the vet. Turns out she has been busy eating many metal objects and screws. She is out of surgery and coming home today.

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[McChics]

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[chickcrack]

OMG! That is one crazy and lucky chicken! I hope she has learned her lesson.

 

[SnookumsGal]

@McChics Seems like she really wanted some iron in her diet!

But on a more serious note, I hope she recovers well. It's actually a good thing you saw her gobble that screw up, because you wouldn't of seen how much other metal was inside of her without taking her to the vet's!

 

[McChics]

She passed on this morning in my arms. Went to let them out of the coop this morning. She was on the floor. Her heart was racing and she was listless. I picked her up and held her. She was very warm/hot feeling. After a while she opened her mouth a few times then started convulsing. Se settled down then closed her eyes and was gone.

Really was a rough week for her. From the pain of the metal to the surgery and failure to recover. I held her a long time last night and fed her yogurt and grapes. She was slowly eating but clearly not well.

We tried. We really did. It is what it is. At least I spent her last bit of time together so she didn't just die alone.

 

[Eggcessive]

I am so sorry to hear that she died after having the surgery. Please take a magnet and go around your chicken ranging area in case there is more metal. Hopefully, your other chickens are fine. Thank you for posting the pictures. We bought one like this:

 

[Spiderduck]

Hi

So the surgery went well but she didnt recover well?
Thats sad
My chick has eaten a pin and surgery is pretty expensive at around £600
How much did you pay?

So do you think waiting has the same risk as surgery??