Crop filled with liquid and not emptying

[cluckingheck]

How much of the epsom water should I give him at a time? Just an ounce?

 

[azygous]

One teaspoon of Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) in one ounce of warm water can be given to Little Dude to drink on his own. You can give him another ounce later in the day, or skip it if you see it has already worked.

This can be done twice a day for up to three days.

For chicken keepers that know how to tube feed, a chicken can be tubed a much large amount directly into its crop. That solution can be one teaspoon Epsom salts to half a cup of water up to twice a day for three days. This is the solution I prefer as it has a larger volume of water to really flush out a chicken.

If you would like to learn how to tube feed, it's really very easy once you master the technique of inserting the tube, which also is easy if you know where the tube needs to go. If you can get a tube feeding kit from your vet, ask for a catheter and feeding tube for a small animal, I can teach you, or your vet can show you if they know how to do it on a chicken.

 

[cluckingheck]

I don’t know. I gave him the epsom solution and massaged his crop, but it just seems like he’s losing his energy. His wings are starting to droop…I just don’t know. Is there anything else I can do? Better food than 20% chick starter?

 

[azygous]

Try reviving him with a little water with some sugar in it. If you have Poultry Nutri-drench, squirt a little in it.

This little guy may have reached the point where his internal organs aren't up to serving his present size. He may have had under sized organs when he hatched, and they just haven't been up to the job of metabolizing what he eats to allow him to grow normally and all the rest. This happens to a lot of failure-to-thrive chicks. They are small, but seem to be growing, but then they hit a wall and can't go any farther.

You can try egg or tofu or Fancy Feast cat food or even baby food. Extra protein is what he needs. But it may be the end of the road for this little Dude.

 

[cluckingheck]

Try reviving him with a little water with some sugar in it. If you have Poultry Nutri-drench, squirt a little in it.

This little guy may have reached the point where his internal organs aren't up to serving his present size. He may have had under sized organs when he hatched, and they just haven't been up to the job of metabolizing what he eats to allow him to grow normally and all the rest. This happens to a lot of failure-to-thrive chicks. They are small, but seem to be growing, but then they hit a wall and can't go any farther.

You can try egg or tofu or Fancy Feast cat food or even baby food. Extra protein is what he needs. But it may be the end of the road for this little Dude.

Life loves to be cruel, huh? They always seem to want to take the ones that make the most impact on you. He’s my little buddy and I really don’t want to lose him but just seeing his decline isn’t giving me much hope.

 

[azygous]

I know. I just lost a hen who was eight years old, and she adored me as much as I loved her. The bond between a human and a special chicken can be as close as anyone and their dog.

 

[cluckingheck]

Little Dude is in the process of dying. He went downhill so fast, I think @azygous was right about him hitting his wall. I made a bed of straw for him and moved his pop up tent near the others. I’ll miss my little buddy and miss having him sitting on my shoulders when I was trying to fill up the feeders.

 

[azygous]

I have a philosophy that it's not important how long a life is, but how much living and love went on during that life.

 

[6BeachChicks]

I’m so sorry to hear that! Little Dude is lucky to have an owner like you to help. I am wishing him the best of luck though!

 

[cluckingheck]

Never would’ve thought Sunday was going to be the last day he’d be sitting on my shoulder