That chicken just ate glass. Let me repeat that for anyone who needs a moment: your feathery little idiot, the one you've raised from a peep, the one who pecks at your shoelaces like they owe her money, just swallowed a shard of glass. The Reddit post says exactly two letters plus a period: "Fml." And we get it. We really, really get it.
This is the kind of moment that separates the casual chicken keeper from the truly committed. You're standing there, maybe still holding the broom you were using to sweep up whatever broke, and you watch her gobble it down like it's a premium treat. Your brain short-circuits. You think, *Did that just happen?* Then you think, *Why do I love these suicidal dinosaurs?* Then you panic. The post doesn't offer much else, just a photo of the offender and that heavy, helpless acronym. This is not the time to curse your luck. It's the time to act, and to laugh later, probably while crying.
Practically speaking, what do you do? First, don't try to make her vomit, chickens can't throw up the way we do, and forcing it can do more damage. Second, isolate her from the flock so you can monitor her droppings and behavior. Look for signs of distress: lethargy, blood in the poop, refusing to eat or drink. Third, call your vet. Yes, even if you feel silly. A shard of glass can slice the crop, the gizzard, or the intestines, and that's not something you treat with internet vibes. In the meantime, offer her soft, fibrous foods, mashed banana, plain yogurt, or wet bread, to help cushion the glass as it passes. This is not a guarantee. This is an educated guess from people who have been there, and who have seen chickens survive worse.
If a reader came to us with this exact problem, we'd say this: you are not a bad chicken parent. You are the person who noticed, who cared enough to post, and who is now reading this instead of scrolling past. Chickens are chaos machines with beaks. They eat staples, screws, and once a friend's bird swallowed a whole pushpin and lived to lay another egg. Glass is scary, but it's not an automatic death sentence. Watch her like a hawk for the next 48 hours. Check every dropping. Keep her hydrated. And if she makes it through, which she very well might, buy yourself a nice, sturdy dustpan and promise her you'll sweep better next time. She won't keep the promise. But you will.