esta Posted June 5, 2008 Share Posted June 5, 2008 My chookie Mavis has very bad table manners. I get slightly worried as she tends to eat things whole. You may think, oh that is what chickens do, but she swallows grapes WHOLE! Do you think it may choke her, do you think that i should cut them smaller? Any advice would be appreciated! None of the others do it, she runs around and sqwabbles for them and gulps them down! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 5, 2008 Share Posted June 5, 2008 It might be a problem ....I'd halve them just to be on the safe side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted June 5, 2008 Share Posted June 5, 2008 (edited) I always halve grapes as I was told when DS was a baby that grapes can swell in the mouth/throat by up to 10% causing choking. I don't know how true it is but I was terrified by that story and as a result I have always halved them for the kids and the chooks. I don't halve them for OH though - he can do his own!! Bet your chook's crop looks funny at the end of the day!! Edited June 5, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted June 5, 2008 Share Posted June 5, 2008 I always cut grapes in half for my girls and most other treats gets chopped to a reasonable size - makes them last a bit longer too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucking mad Posted June 5, 2008 Share Posted June 5, 2008 if it hurt them or caused danger to them then they would probs realise and not do it, but i would be on the safe side just incase. and i dont reckon grapes swell up, try it in your own mouth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted June 5, 2008 Share Posted June 5, 2008 Opal does this as well, how she can possibly enjoy them I don't know. Sorry to be gruesome, but they also swallow frogs whole and that has got to be more uncomfortable than a grape! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted June 5, 2008 Share Posted June 5, 2008 I wouldn't worry , the child thing is so they dont get stuck in their throat as they dont dissolve because of the skin they dont swell. Mine have always wallowed them whole didnt see a prob as most stuff goes in like that!! i'm sure they would peck at something if they were worried. Amber took 2 flying leaps (about 4') at the back door when she saw the treat bowl tonight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckbok Posted June 5, 2008 Share Posted June 5, 2008 Mine once swallowed a snail whole!! I couldn't believe it!! She was ok though. I think I would halve the grapes if they that greedy just like mine are!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 Mine once swallowed a snail whole!! I couldn't believe it!! She was ok though. I think I would halve the grapes if they that greedy just like mine are!! With shell? Mine tend to try and break things up. They spear grapes/cherry tomatoes on their beak and run off with them so they can peck bits off away from the competition. I've seen Abbie spear a whole roast potato and run off. They get incredibly competitive if you don't break it up into lots of bits and fight over each grape/berry you throw in, sometimes abandoning the 1st one to do this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 I agree, I tend to cut things up so I can spread them around and they go further. I wouldn't worry about them swallowing a grape whole though - if it wouldn't go down, they wouldn't do it. One of mine once swallowed a MOUSE whole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 A mouse you say? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisP Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 Mine swallowed a frog whole too once I would halve them, but that is because mine are greedy and are always after some more if they eat the too quickly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hils78 Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 Mice & frogs - oh my why hadn't I read this b4 I got chickens? I don't think I could eat another egg if I saw my chickens do that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rachel m Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 Mine swallowed a frog whole too once I would halve them, but that is because mine are greedy and are always after some more if they eat the too quickly halve the frogs??? we tend to hang up a few grapes on the stalk for them to peck at. nigella managed to catch 2 shrews on thursday, fortunately we saw them running round the garden fighting over each one in turn, and managed to wrestle them away before they are swallowed. read up in our widelife book that most anamals don't eat them as they taste horrible, but i guess it is hard to tell the taste if they down it in one!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faye&Ant Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 Mine swallowed a frog whole too once I would halve them, but that is because mine are greedy and are always after some more if they eat the too quickly Halve the frogs? Now thats a step too far Faye x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susanbb Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 A mouse you say? My dear Mrs Bridges(cochin) was last seen by myself and DS(12) downing a whole mouse....tail only on show at the end. Needless to say Ruari was feeling a bit I obviously was concerned but Mrs Bridges was really rather pleased with herself . She'd got there before her chicken sisters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
