total FREAK OUT! (any advice/help needed)

[Morgan7782]

Alright so I let the girls out this morning, and they are pecking around enjoying the cooler then normal morning. All the sudden my mom yells "Joon has a string!!" and I race over to find out what she meant. Well.. My IDIOT brother (

) left a few pieces of string/yarn in the yard after a stupid project he was playing with, and of course Joon thought it was a worm. Well I totally Freaked out and started running after her, chasing her around my entire yard. Now mind you, I am a bigger girl, but I was HAULING butt after this little pullet. We have so much density to our trees she was able to outmenuver me easily, and ended up EATING the string!! I have read chickens will eat anything, and yes that is true. What should I do?? Should I do anything?? It was a piece of yarn/string about 3 inches long and Joon ate it before I could catch her. I feel awful and am freaking out that she will get sick or die.. Any tips would be helpful. Before I let them out tomorrow I will walk the yard and make sure EVERYTHING is picked up.. I am totally worried that my little Joon girl will get sick from this. She seems fine now.. But how will she pass the string?? Will it wrap around her intestines?? Please offer any words of advice.. I am really worried

 

[dipence71]

I am sorry. I dont know anything about them eating string... I know they eat screws and nails and are ok. They don't pass them they just stay in the gizzard I believe.

 

[Morgan7782]

I feel so bad for letting something so stupid happen. man.. I will look up the gizzard and see if I can find information on digesting in crop and stuff. I sure hope she is ok. She seems fine now, a little befuddled at MY panic lol. But I just don't know if it's dangerous and how much so.

 

[sune42]

What kind of string was it? If it's a natural material I think the chicken would be able to break it down. Hemp, wool, cotton etc You said it was around 3in, how thick was it?

 

[pattypenny]

don't worry it wont hurt her.

 

[MattalynsBarn]

no matter what you need a hug.

 

[Morgan7782]

Quote:
cotton or wool for sure. It was like yarn. It was VERY thin, not thick at all. I can see why she mistook it for a worm, but she didn't seem dissapointed in the lack of wormy taste! Thanks all for responding and the hugs, they are very appreciated.

 

[ScaredOfShadows]

if it was cotton or wool and it was only 3 inches, I would think she could easily pass it by this evening, if not the body will break it down and digest it in a few days. I've had chickens eat god only knows what...I know I've had one eat a piece of nylon string before I could get it away, and this was a few weeks ago - chicken is still living and being a butt head

 

[kcfuerst]

My guess is that 3" of questionable material will be no worries at all. I had a pullet pick up a 12" piece of plastic green garden tying tape. Before I could catch her she had sucked up all 12". After spending $800 for crop surgery at the local bird vet, they found nothing of consequence. Her system had dissolved it.

I am confident you pullet will do the same thing to such a small piece of yarn.

 

[ChixPix]

I had a cat swallow 30 inches of ribbon. Yes THIRTY. Cost me $600 to fix that mess.
Damn expensive useless loveable cute as hell cat.

Anyway, he for sure would have died. The natural fibers and how short it is, I don't think I'd worry about it too much. I'd just keep an eye on her.