Gotalotofpetstoo
Songster
First of all I've had chickens and I went through a lot with Ethel, a blind totally emaciated chicken that we ended up caring for for 7 months, so I know a bit about tube feeding and such. One of my customers went in the hospital and a couple days before the hospital her chicken came up sick. I told her I would take care of her while she's in the hospital. Totally emaciated, 2 lb 11 oz. An Easter egger, was paralyzed and couldn't move except basically opening her eyes which she doesn't do often, and she wouldn't eat or drink. We started out tube feeding her and giving her plenty of vitamins, same as we did Ethel. Within 2 days she seemed to be getting just a little bit of energy and then last night her crop was still full so we didn't feed her. She got a Epsom salt bath for about 20 to 25 minutes and dried well. We put her to bed in her baby bouncy with towels rolled up around her to keep her upright. I woke up this morning to find her doing this. I'm kind of thinking that because her crop was full she might have thrashed around or something and aspirated? You can see in the picture she was mouth breathing somewhat. She has quit the mouth breathing, but I'm hoping she's not just giving up, I'd really hate to lose my customer's chicken, although she knows it's a good possibility. Can anyone give me any thoughts on what might be going on and how to treat it if there is a way?
Another note, when my husband got up this morning she was sitting in the baby bouncy with her head hanging over the edge and some liquid from her crop came out her mouth on the pad below her. She was making this noise and mouth breathing at that time. My husband propped her up and came in and got me and when I went out there her head was all the way back against the towels, beak pointing up. I resituated her And she continued to mouth breathe and make this noise for a few minutes. It seems she is stopped the mouth breathing now but still making that noise just a little bit now, but I'm still concerned about her. Also, her crop is still mostly full from yesterday mornings feeding. She's been checked for being egg bound and is not. She has no lice/mites. No foul odor coming from her mouth like I'd expect with sour crop. Massaged her crop while I'm her bath last night.
Another note, when my husband got up this morning she was sitting in the baby bouncy with her head hanging over the edge and some liquid from her crop came out her mouth on the pad below her. She was making this noise and mouth breathing at that time. My husband propped her up and came in and got me and when I went out there her head was all the way back against the towels, beak pointing up. I resituated her And she continued to mouth breathe and make this noise for a few minutes. It seems she is stopped the mouth breathing now but still making that noise just a little bit now, but I'm still concerned about her. Also, her crop is still mostly full from yesterday mornings feeding. She's been checked for being egg bound and is not. She has no lice/mites. No foul odor coming from her mouth like I'd expect with sour crop. Massaged her crop while I'm her bath last night.
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