4.5 yo Orpington Still Struggling

[Aunt Angus]

Are her poops all dark like that or does she have solid poops frosted with nitrates?

There is a chance she has cancer tumors. How is her abdomen? Any swelling in front of or behind the legs?

There is a possibility she never regained enough strength after her broody stint that she was able to develop a healthy appetite. I would recommend one tube feeding of raw egg, baby strained meat, yogurt, and a little cream of wheat or similar cereal for carbs and Nutri-drench. Or use baby bird formula. Add a teaspoon of sugar to her drinking water for 24 hours.

Sometimes, one high calorie nutritious feeding can restore strength and kick start appetite. But tube feeding more than once can ruin appetite by filling the crop artificially. It's why I don't like to tube feed more than one time.

No swelling anywhere I can feel. I was leaning toward cancer.

She does have normal brown and white poop occasionally. I'll get pics once she poops again.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Off to get aquarium tubing and Pedialyte. What size tubing? I have a 60mL catheter syringe.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I'm assuming this is the way to go about this:

 

[Aunt Angus]

She's sunbathing.

 

[Painted Calls]

I'm assuming this is the way to go about this:
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Absolutely!

 

[Aunt Angus]

I can't find tubing that will fit, so I will have to go into town. My son has an appointment, so Poppy will have to wait a minute. She's sitting on the heating pad and looks too hot. I'll turn it down. She moved to be sitting on it, though.

 

[Brooks_]

I can't find tubing that will fit,

If the tubing is too big, could you zip tie it to the nipple (lack of better word)? Too small, yeah won't work.

I don't have answers, but trying to help.

 

[Eggcessive]

I don’t tube feed birds who are older and failing. But aquarium air tubing and oxygen tubing fit a regular tip 35 ml syringe, while a catheter tip syringe will require a red rubber or other catheter. Feed stores like TSC and Lowes carry loose rolls of tubing that you can buy by the foot. You can try fitting one of those to your catheter tip syringe. A turkey baster has a similar connection to catheter tip syringes. When my hens start failing, I usually try to make them comfortable as possible, and offer foods they like, until the end comes or I put them down. I think the amount of liquid one feeds is around 15 ml per pound given 2-3 times a day. A vet should be able to sell you a tube feeding set or separate components.

 

[Painted Calls]

My best friend has Buff Orps from Hoover's that are 12 years old. I don't personally consider this bird to be old enough to be done.

Most feed stores should carry lamb tubes. Those usually come with a syringe. Call around and see if you can find one of those. They typically run about $6.75.

 

[Eggcessive]

My best friend has Buff Orps from Hoover's that are 12 years old. I don't personally consider this bird to be old enough to be done.

Most feed stores should carry lamb tubes. Those usually come with a syringe. Call around and see if you can find one of those. They typically run about $6.75.

I have had a few reach 10 or 11, but most have only made it to 7 or 8, and quite a few died earlier. It depends on breeds and what problems they may have had. I had infectious bronchitis virus in the second year, and quite a few suffered from early reproductive issues. I just don’t routinely tube feed sick birds. I will try everything to get one to eat, and make them comfy, but that is just the way I prefer.