When I fed one, I wrappred her in a towel to keep her under control, sort of held her up-side-down under one arm, and fed her with a medicine dropper. She had hurt her neck, maybe from flyng down from the roost and hitting the feeder, and was lethargic, not eating or drinking. Her head was sucked straight back into her body. Anyway, I used the medicine dropper and fed her some of that hummingbird food, the red liquid watered down, trying to get her energy up plus I was worried about dehydration. I fed her twice, one evening and the following morning, then she started eating and drinking on her own.
I called the county extension agent, who put me in touch with a Dr. Clark at U of A in Fayetteville. We discussed the symptoms over the phone and determined she had prob bly hurt her neck, that it was probably not a disease. Did not cost a cent.
Good luck with yours.