laurensinthegarden
In the Brooder
Hi everyone. Will write an intro a little later but would appreciate timely insight/advice. 2 weeks ago MY dogs opened the gate to the chicken yard and went after the hens. Maisey who is about 6 months old was the only injury albeit severely; it's now two weeks post attack. My main concern is that she's not effectively eating or drinking. I didn't weigh her initially, but I estimated her pre-injury weight at approx 4# and she's now 3.5#. She pecks at the floor or feeder, but doesn't actually pick up very much, nor can I get her to drink on her own at all. We had a bout of severe respiratory problems starting on day 2 (guessing some aspiration due to me trying to give her fluids with an eye dropper) very noisy breathing, but have gotten past that, and her respiratory status appears to be normal.
No fractures, no crushed skull, but a couple of deep bites resulting from being carried by the head I presume. I think her neck is mostly ok, she does extend her neck, and carry her head normally, but probably has some degree of sprain/strain.
I've kept chickens for years and in various locations and have had my flock suffer predation in the past (not ever my own dogs though), and have never had a survivor before. Her left eye was closed but no apparent eye injury. Vetricin topically for wound care has produced very satisfactory healing of wounds, no infection.
I'm limited to doctoring her myself (we cant afford an expensive vet bill and they're always expensive). For the respiratory issue, she was on Amoxicillin, dose appropriate for her 3.5# weight (approximately 20 mg) x 5 days, and I had some Cipro which I was able to fairly accurately dose her with as well for 5 days (approx 60 mg q 12 hours). She had developed a respiratory infection by day 2 and her respirations were wet sounding and I feared the worst. After 24 hours of Cipro she sounded clear with breathing and finally seemed stable.
I was able to locate a silicone catheter (feeding tube). Unfortunately it is fairly small bore (#14 fr.) limiting me, even with Vitamix blender to how thick I can make her food. What I ended up with was raw and cooked egg, pumpkin seed, a dash of honey, a tiny pinch of himalayan salt, poultry vitamin - Poultry Cell per instructions, chick electrolytes added to water. All this in the blender and whirled around until it was as smooth as I could make it so that it would pass through the tiny lumen of the tube.
I also called round to the vet's and they sold me a #18 fr. catheter, but it was made of very stiff hard red rubber, and even soaking in hot water barely improved the flexibility so I stuck with the silicone flexible one for my hen's comfort.
Maisey pecks at the newspapered floor of the dog crate I have her in, She's indoors in heated quarters, and has freedom to stand under a lamp with a 75 watt bulb if she's cold or move away from it. I have a little hanging feeder with crumbles, scratch, few meal worms, and some crushed pumpkin seed and a tiny bit of peanut butter for her to peck at. I have a little fount that she used as a chick, as well as a dish of minced scrambled egg.
While it's been too cold to keep Maisey outdoors for very long I still take her for outings. She perks up outdoors, explores her surroundings, keeps both eyes open and actually gets a few pieces of scratch swallowed, but I've never observed her spontaneously drinking.
Even wrapped up like a burrito in a towel, she vigorously fights,vocalizes and opposes the tube, making it a real battle to get nutrition/fluids in her. Mostly she is somewhat listless, (I'm sure being borderline hydrated and nourished has something to do with this). Any ideas? Better homemade diet? A key missing ingredient? A super supplement? More time outdoors? Other ideas??
I give credit to God for us making it thus far, for without Him I couldn't have done it. I also give credit to some of the wonderful posts I've read here for inspiration, instruction, wisdom and reference to outside sources. In particular a most helpful entry from Kuntrygirl "My crop tube feeding journey with my bird" made this do-able for me. Thanks in advance for any other thoughts or ideas. Maisey and I really appreciate you all!
No fractures, no crushed skull, but a couple of deep bites resulting from being carried by the head I presume. I think her neck is mostly ok, she does extend her neck, and carry her head normally, but probably has some degree of sprain/strain.
I've kept chickens for years and in various locations and have had my flock suffer predation in the past (not ever my own dogs though), and have never had a survivor before. Her left eye was closed but no apparent eye injury. Vetricin topically for wound care has produced very satisfactory healing of wounds, no infection.
I'm limited to doctoring her myself (we cant afford an expensive vet bill and they're always expensive). For the respiratory issue, she was on Amoxicillin, dose appropriate for her 3.5# weight (approximately 20 mg) x 5 days, and I had some Cipro which I was able to fairly accurately dose her with as well for 5 days (approx 60 mg q 12 hours). She had developed a respiratory infection by day 2 and her respirations were wet sounding and I feared the worst. After 24 hours of Cipro she sounded clear with breathing and finally seemed stable.
I was able to locate a silicone catheter (feeding tube). Unfortunately it is fairly small bore (#14 fr.) limiting me, even with Vitamix blender to how thick I can make her food. What I ended up with was raw and cooked egg, pumpkin seed, a dash of honey, a tiny pinch of himalayan salt, poultry vitamin - Poultry Cell per instructions, chick electrolytes added to water. All this in the blender and whirled around until it was as smooth as I could make it so that it would pass through the tiny lumen of the tube.
I also called round to the vet's and they sold me a #18 fr. catheter, but it was made of very stiff hard red rubber, and even soaking in hot water barely improved the flexibility so I stuck with the silicone flexible one for my hen's comfort.
Maisey pecks at the newspapered floor of the dog crate I have her in, She's indoors in heated quarters, and has freedom to stand under a lamp with a 75 watt bulb if she's cold or move away from it. I have a little hanging feeder with crumbles, scratch, few meal worms, and some crushed pumpkin seed and a tiny bit of peanut butter for her to peck at. I have a little fount that she used as a chick, as well as a dish of minced scrambled egg.
While it's been too cold to keep Maisey outdoors for very long I still take her for outings. She perks up outdoors, explores her surroundings, keeps both eyes open and actually gets a few pieces of scratch swallowed, but I've never observed her spontaneously drinking.
Even wrapped up like a burrito in a towel, she vigorously fights,vocalizes and opposes the tube, making it a real battle to get nutrition/fluids in her. Mostly she is somewhat listless, (I'm sure being borderline hydrated and nourished has something to do with this). Any ideas? Better homemade diet? A key missing ingredient? A super supplement? More time outdoors? Other ideas??
I give credit to God for us making it thus far, for without Him I couldn't have done it. I also give credit to some of the wonderful posts I've read here for inspiration, instruction, wisdom and reference to outside sources. In particular a most helpful entry from Kuntrygirl "My crop tube feeding journey with my bird" made this do-able for me. Thanks in advance for any other thoughts or ideas. Maisey and I really appreciate you all!