I just returned a bag of Purina Flock Raiser to TSC yesterday, it had mold in it! I'm not sure, but I think it was a really old bag, didn't even have the date code printed on it! Unfortunately, I didn't notice it until after I fed about half of it and now a couple of my young peafowl are looking...
I'll tube Merek's (done the most tubing with these - something like eight of them, some for weeks, some for just days), egg bound, molts, you name it, I've probably tubed it. It's amazing how fast some can bounce back (non-terminal). It's very easy and it also allows you to check their poop...
I hear ya, my chickens don't get to go to the vet, way too expensive for my chickens, but I do take in my peafowl every now and then. And you're right, most chickens don't survive, but I still try. I had one hen that couldn't sit or stand and her neck was twisted funny, maybe it was wry neck, I...
I had one that was doing flips in the yard, so I brought him in, tube fed him for weeks until he got better. A few months went by and then he started walking funny again, but this time I couldn't keep him alive and he wasted away.