Turkey swallowed a screw

[TurkeyKeeper]

I was out with my 3 Month old turkeys today and I think one of them swallowed a screw. The screw was a little big and sharp. Do you guys think she will be alright or should I take her to the vet?

 

[The-White-Elephant]

I was out with my 3 Month old turkeys today and I think one of them swallowed a screw. The screw was a little big and sharp. Do you guys think she will be alright or should I take her to the vet?

I would vote a vet.

And welcome to BYC!

 

[Eggcessive]

Poultry swallow screws and other hardware commonly when they see a shiny object. It is called hardware disease. The screw could possibly pass without a problem, or it could get stuck in the gizzard or in another organ. I would watch her for the next week, and look into her droppings. A vet might be of some help with an xray and possible crop surgery if done right away, but for most, that is not an option. A BYC thread detailed a screw being swallowed, and later made it’s way through the abdominal wall and was sticking out of the belly. The owner chose to cut off the sharp tip on the outside, and as far as I know the chicken lived a normal life.

 

[TurkeyKeeper]

Poultry swallow screws and other hardware commonly when they see a shiny object. It is called hardware disease. The screw could possibly pass without a problem, or it could get stuck in the gizzard or in another organ. I would watch her for the next week, and look into her droppings. A vet might be of some help with an xray and possible crop surgery if done right away, but for most, that is not an option. A BYC thread detailed a screw being swallowed, and later made it’s way through the abdominal wall and was sticking out of the belly. The owner chose to cut off the sharp tip on the outside, and as far as I know the chicken lived a normal life.

Thanks for the advice

 

[TurkeyKeeper]

I would vote a vet.

And welcome to BYC!

Thanks for the advice!

 

[Eggcessive]

You’re welcome. Please follow up your thread if you see the screw or if her condition changes.

 

[CoconutCoffee]

You should get a magnet to go through their area when possible. I remember reading about someone processing a chicken and finding a screw. It made me paranoid so I went through the runs (primarily one area that was converted into a run) and found many rusty nails. May not find it all but at least there'd be less.

 

[TurkeyKeeper]

You should get a magnet to go through their area when possible. I remember reading about someone processing a chicken and finding a screw. It made me paranoid so I went through the runs (primarily one area that was converted into a run) and found many rusty nails. May not find it all but at least there'd be less.

Thank you for the advice. I will try it out

 

[TurkeyKeeper]

I was out with my 3 Month old turkeys today and I think one of them swallowed a screw. The screw was a little big and sharp. Do you guys think she will be alright or should I take her to the vet?

Today I checked their poop. I didn't see the screw. Do you guys have any idea how long it will take for them to poop it out?

 

[Eggcessive]

It would be unknown, and it might never show up in poop. Sometimes with hardware disease, you can do a necropsy and open the gizzard where multiple items may be found that were swallowed earlier.