[poultrygeist]

Could do with some advice please.

I was sawing a bit off the end of the coop door runner this afternoon and absent-mindedly chucked the sawn off bit to the ground.
Obviously the hens thought this was great fun and one picked it up and ran off with it, hotly pursued by the others.
They were last seen squabling over it in a corner of the run until I broke up the fight.
Trouble is, I can't find the bit of wood. It was a triangular offcut from a piece of 19 x 32mm batten about an inch long, treated with safe paint.
One of the chooks had got a slightly bulging crop which I felt but it didn't feel at all jagged, it just felt like corn and meal.
Do you think they would swallow somethign this size and if so, what should I look for ?
I'm happy to go and crawl round the run to make sure it's not there.
I can't imagine they would be able to pass it through or would they ?
Thanks for any advice.
Rob

[GrannieAnnie]

It's possible one of them swallowed it Rob, but you won't know which one will you, unless you can feel it in the crop.  I supposed youu could try to turn her upside down and try to gently press it out, but I may be a bit worried about the sharp end piercing the skin. Don't really know what to suggest!

[naturesparadise]

i know chooks are a bit thick but i would not think that they would of swallowed

sumit that big i have watched the landlords choocks pic up bits of wood but they never swallowed it

[poultrygeist]

It's possible one of them swallowed it Rob, but you won't know which one will you, unless you can feel it in the crop.

Exactly Annie. There was only one whose crop looked a bit overfull but I couldn't feel anything triangular in there. I was busy being pecked to pieces while I checked so it was a bit hurried !!

 I supposed youu could try to turn her upside down and try to gently press it out, but I may be a bit worried about the sharp end piercing the skin. Don't really know what to suggest!

I'm willing to try anything but I think I may return to the scene of teh crime and just make sure it's not been dropped somewhere. I feel terrible for being so stupid but when I get a saw in my hands, I just go into auto-mode.
I double checked the size of the wood and it's nearer 10x20 profile so even easier to swallow but no better for them.
Thanks Annie. As it's about bedtime I'll have to check them again in morning and if one still has a large crop, I can home in on her.

[poultrygeist]

Good news  

Following a fingertip search last night by torchlight (I kid you not) and a feel of each of their crops this morning, I did another search of the run and on my way out found the offending article.

I feel mightily relieved that I haven't caused one of them any problems other than annoyance at being prodded and poked.

I got a few good pecks from my knees upwards  :shock:  for my trouble so it's a lesson learnt. I won't be doing that again !!  :oops:

Here's the bit of wood. The pound coin is for size comparison and to prove we're not totally bankrupted yet.

[Aunt Sally]

That's a brilliant bit of news Rob.  

It was a bit bit of wood  :shock:

A photo of you doing the finger-tip search if it happens again please  

[poultrygeist]

Will do Auntie.

I may have exaggerated the size a bit but that's a male prerogative !!

 

[Aunt Sally]

        I hope you're talking fishing  

[poultrygeist]

Naturally

 :roll:

[GrannieAnnie]

Oh so pleased the wood was discovered OUTSIDE the chicken Rob!!!!

[poultrygeist]

:oops:

lesson learnt.  

[babe]

:oops:

lesson learnt.  

always better to be safe than sorry, glad its all good news in the end

[Jellyhead]

Glad its all worked out, I had visions of a triangle eggie