Water Balloons

[alwaysthere4chickens]

I have a friend who recently had a water balloon party at her house with her kids, and their 10 week old chickens ate some of the popped ones on the ground.

The family had been feeding their chickens rose petals that look a lot like those water balloons.

Will they be ok? Will they get a crop impaction?

the balloons are about 1 1/2 in. long

 

[azygous]

If they were deflated when consumed, there's a good chance the balloons will pass on through the chickens and come out in their poop in 24 hours.

There is no guarantee they will pass harmlessly, though. Other factors will determine how this material is handled in the digestive tract. Young, healthy chickens should have no problem unless they consumed numerous balloons. Then there could be impaction in crop or gizzard. Strong grinding action in the gizzard should push it through, though. If impaction occurs in the crop, crop surgery may be required to remove it.

If an older, weaker chicken consumed a balloon, however, it may not end on a happy note.