Solitary chicken - need advice

[auntielizzie]

that Bessie may have swallowed a drawing pin I was attaching some home made wooden bunting to the wooden coop (as you do) when I dropped a drawing pin. In the blink of an eye, before I could reach down to pick it up, Bessie had grabbed it in her beak and ran off with it I chased her around the FR area (as did the other three chickens ) - once or twice I nearly caught her and she still had it in her beak - but eventually I had to give up and of course when she appeared the drawing pin had gone I'm hoping she decided it wasn't anything tasty and dropped it somewhere, but I can't find it (needle in a haystack situation ). But what if she did swallow it I'm really not sure what to do now

[Beantree]

That is a problem without doubt Auntielizzie. They don't normally eat stuff like that, even if they do pick it up. Little bits of plastic and cigarette ends perhaps. Do you know anyone with a metal detector that could scan her crop? I mean those that find buried pipes and electrical cables in your wall. I think it unlikely she has swallowed it, because it would surely get stuck immediately I think and she would be squealing and bleeding with the pin sticking out of her throat. Also then gaping to get it out. But for your own piece of mind. In the very unlikely event that she has swallowed it a vet would have the opportunity to remove it from her crop before it caused damage or impaction.

[auntielizzie]

So far so good; Bessie seems to be perfectly her normal self, so I'm hoping that she dropped the pin somewhere but as yet I still haven't found it

[Luvachicken]

I hope it stays that way

What a worry for you.

[LizzieLloyd]

I had this while ago with broken glass. I was worried one of them had picked up a bit of broken glass but I think that although they may pick it up to explore it they aren't stupid enough to eat it (let's hope)! Fingers crossed all ok