Impacted crop

[TwoCrows]

Where do you get your tubing?

 

[casportpony]

Rubber catheter type feeding tubes come in "French" sizes from 3-34. The smaller the number, the smaller the tube. The smallest one I use is an 8, and I use that on all baby chicks. I think metal crop tubes are sized in gauges, so for those the smaller the number, the larger the tube. The sizes I use most are 8, 10, 16,18 and 30.
Here is the size 8






Here are the sizes:

French
Gauge Diameter
(mm) Diameter
(inches)
3 1 0.039
4 1.33 0.053
5 1.67 0.066
6 2 0.079
7 2.3 0.092
8 2.7 0.105
9 3 0.118
10 3.3 0.131
11 3.7 0.144
12 4 0.158
13 4.3 0.170
14 4.7 0.184
15 5 0.197
16 5.3 0.210
17 5.7 0.223
18 6 0.236
19 6.3 0.249
20 6.7 0.263
22 7.3 0.288
24 8 0.315
26 8.7 0.341
28 9.3 0.367
30 10 0.393
32 10.7 0.419
34 11.3 0.445​

The 30
http://www.greatmedicalsupplies.com...l-purpose-robinsonnelaton-catheter-351030.htm

The 28
http://www.greatmedicalsupplies.com...l-purpose-robinsonnelaton-catheter-351028.htm

The 26
http://www.greatmedicalsupplies.com...l-purpose-robinsonnelaton-catheter-351026.htm

The 24
http://www.greatmedicalsupplies.com...l-purpose-robinsonnelaton-catheter-351024.htm

The 22
http://www.greatmedicalsupplies.com...l-purpose-robinsonnelaton-catheter-351022.htm

The 20
http://www.greatmedicalsupplies.com...l-purpose-robinsonnelaton-catheter-351020.htm

The 18
http://www.greatmedicalsupplies.com...l-purpose-robinsonnelaton-catheter-351018.htm

The 16
http://www.greatmedicalsupplies.com...l-purpose-robinsonnelaton-catheter-351016.htm

The 14
http://www.greatmedicalsupplies.com...l-purpose-robinsonnelaton-catheter-351014.htm

The 12
http://www.greatmedicalsupplies.com...l-purpose-robinsonnelaton-catheter-351012.htm

The 10
http://www.greatmedicalsupplies.com...l-purpose-robinsonnelaton-catheter-351010.htm

The 8
http://www.greatmedicalsupplies.com...l-purpose-robinsonnelaton-catheter-351008.htm

These are the cheapest we could find and they last much longer than the more expensive brands.
http://www.shopmedvet.com/product/syringe-60cc-catheter-tip-25-box-MV60CCCT/mvi-syringes-needles

Help | Tell a Friend | Printable Version
Med-Vet Syringes 60cc Catheter Tip 25/bx

Item#: MV60CCCT
Vendor: Oasis
Price:$9.99
Quantity:
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Product Description:
Individual Soft Pack

• Bold Graduation
  • ISO-9002, CE, FDA registered

Product Details:
NAME: SYRINGE,60CC,CATHETER TIP,25/BOX


-Kathy

 

[TwoCrows]

Thanks Kathy!

 

[TwoCrows]

What size is for the average large breed bird? 14 16 or 18?

 

[casportpony]

You're welcome. Tubing is part art, part science, and done carefully, it is *very* safe. Will it cure all sick birds? No, of course it won't, but no bird will die from dehydration if tubed. There are some simple rules, like one should not tube more fluids if the crop isn't clearing fluids, and a bird that's unresponsive or can't hold it's head up should not be tubed, but all of that is covered in one or more of the videos i posted or provided a link to. On my long list of things to do is to write a step-by-step tubing guide, one that cavers how to properly hydrate first and explains when to tube, when not to, volume of water or food and frequency. When it's all done, I'm going to have it blessed by veterinarian (hopefully).

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

What size is for the average large breed bird? 14 16 or 18?

For just water I used an 18 on most birds, even the OEGB, but for food, I use as big a tube as possible, which is the 30 on most birds over 1000 grams. I have all sizes here, but find myself using the 8, 18 and 30 the most. With the 30 one can tube crumbles mixed with water. All others are too small and will only work with baby bird food. My young pigeon gets tubed with an 18.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

If any of you have suggestions on what should be included in a tubing article, please read this link and make your suggestions:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/944803/i-need-your-help-and-input

-Kathy

 

[TwoCrows]

Thanks Kathy! I am going to get a few of these. I have never had a bird sick long enough that needed tube feeding but I would like to be prepared as I am sure it is bound to happen eventually.

 

[Michelle2639]

In case anyone is interested, my husband put her down yesterday and removed the contents of the crop afterwards. It was a huge mass of long either weed type grasses or straw. I can't imagine why she'd eat straw though. It was at least 2 cups worth. I could barely pull it apart outside of her, it's no wonder I couldn't get it to break up inside of her. I lost a bird but it's not a loss, I gained some more knowledge through all of this. Thanks

 

[speckledhen]

In case anyone is interested, my husband put her down yesterday and removed the contents of the crop afterwards. It was a huge mass of long either weed type grasses or straw. I can't imagine why she'd eat straw though. It was at least 2 cups worth. I could barely pull it apart outside of her, it's no wonder I couldn't get it to break up inside of her. I lost a bird but it's not a loss, I gained some more knowledge through all of this. Thanks

I'm sorry, Michelle, but as you said, everything we go through with chickens is a learning experience. Just pay it forward, as I try to do and I know these ladies do, and help someone else in the future. RIP, pretty BR hen. You did all you could for her. Surgery was probably the only option, then, but I've never had it go well because all of my crop issues were secondary to the real problem.