Distressed about a Lethargic chicken

[MrsBachbach]

I know this is going to sound so newbie. So when it comes to hard boiled eggs, shells and all mashed up?

Don't need to do the shells. If she is laying and you feel she needs the calcium, then you can crunch them up fine.

 

[MrsBachbach]

I already peeled mashed without shells and served. She moved around the pen this morning preferring the covered side of mini pen. I haven't seen her drinking but we measured the bottle so we can tell if she has been drinking.. Unfortunately, I can't work from home today but I will be with her tomorrow. I hope to come home to her showing signs of improvement.

Thank you all for your support. I wish you could see my tears of gratitude.

If she isn't drinking, you may have to crop tube feed some of the medicated water into her. All you need is a syringe and some tubing like aquarium tubing (small diameter). It isn't that hard and easier if someone helps hold the bird while you work with her, but instructions are on this forum. I'd start with no more than an ounce and then add more later if she still is not drinking. She should start perking up after that if she hasn't been drinking. Some birds just don't like the medicine in the water and will not drink it. I have one that refuses to drink even her water if it has worming medicine in it. And I waited a good 24hrs for her to consume those few little ounces. So, sometimes you just have to get it in them yourself.

 

[BarneyNCyndi]

Thank you Mrs B - I will do a quick stop before I join my carpool. The point that I haven't said is that I am a former NICU nurse and I am used to little things. What you are describing is like a gastric lavage? Basically, insert tube and fill bowl of the syringe with the an ounce. Hold it above her head and gravity does the rest. Is that what you are describing?

Does anyone know how you check a chicken for dehydration beside behavior?
I can hardly wait to get home... in 2 hours.

 

[BarneyNCyndi]

Ok, here is my update: we didn't see any indication that Goldie drank any water today. So, I got at 6 ml sh ringe full of her treated water and kept dripping in over her beak. I didn't know a chicken could turn her head almost upside down. We gave her 12 ml put her down near her water and we saw her drink a little. We are giving her a break while we have dinner and attend to the other 5.

 

[SunkenRoadFarms]

If you need to get more in her, hold her between your knees or have a helper hold het, then gently pull on her waddles. This will get her to open her beak and squirt some liquid in. She might fight it do just be quick with the syringe.

 

[BarneyNCyndi]

We got about 1-1/2 ounces in her via small piece of air hose from a fish bubbler at the end of a syringe. I ended up using the waddle trick to open her mouth. We will see how she is doing tomorrow morning.

 

[MrsBachbach]

We got about 1-1/2 ounces in her via small piece of air hose from a fish bubbler at the end of a syringe. I ended up using the waddle trick to open her mouth. We will see how she is doing tomorrow morning.

She will need at least two to three ounces daily if she isn't drinking at all. Maybe a bit more if she is a full grown big bird.
If you haven't looked it up in the forum, you have to make certain you insert the tube properly or you can get water in her lungs. What I always do is have my DH hold the bird and grasp her head with his two fingers and gently stretch her neck just a bit, which helps the tube go down easier. Lubing it with a bit of veg oil isn't a bad idea either. I then use one hand to open her beak while inserting the tube. When facing the bird, the tube goes down the corner of her beak on her right side, which is my left if facing her. I usually insert enough to get down her neck and leave enough hanging out to put the syringe to. They tend to struggle sometime and I always start with just a little bit of water just in case it's in the wrong spot. You can usually feel the water in their crop when you are done. Then you know you did it right.
Is she eating? Hopefully the corid will help. They tend to feel a little better in a couple of days, but you have to continue treatment.

 

[BarneyNCyndi]

I just woke up and thought no poop since those last runny two Sunday night. She didn't touch the hard boiled eggs or anything else I temped her with. I am going to try my honey yogurt - buttermilk and eggs. See it I can get her to try and eat.

 

[enola]

She will need at least two to three ounces daily if she isn't drinking at all. Maybe a bit more if she is a full grown big bird.
If you haven't looked it up in the forum, you have to make certain you insert the tube properly or you can get water in her lungs. What I always do is have my DH hold the bird and grasp her head with his two fingers and gently stretch her neck just a bit, which helps the tube go down easier. Lubing it with a bit of veg oil isn't a bad idea either. I then use one hand to open her beak while inserting the tube. When facing the bird, the tube goes down the corner of her beak on her right side, which is my left if facing her. I usually insert enough to get down her neck and leave enough hanging out to put the syringe to. They tend to struggle sometime and I always start with just a little bit of water just in case it's in the wrong spot. You can usually feel the water in their crop when you are done. Then you know you did it right.
Is she eating? Hopefully the corid will help. They tend to feel a little better in a couple of days, but you have to continue treatment.

Using vegetable oil is probably not a good idea. Just a little vegetable oil in her lungs can cause aspiration pneumonia. You should be able to feel the tube in the chickens crop. You should NEVER put a little water in the tube "in case it is in the wrong place".

 

[BarneyNCyndi]

This morning we got another 1-1/2 ounces down. I am so excited I could scream, she is eating some mash hardboiled eggs and plain yogurt. I just love to see her wipe her beak. I will watch the water dish where I can see if she goes over to it this morning. I figured out how I can prompt her to drink by myself. Just like a little baby- one burrito wraped chicken and a syringe. I know she is still dehydrated should I still force the fluids even if I see her drinking? She ate for about 3 minutes and that was it. So, I am going to wait a few hours... more water/corid. I I don't see her drink in an hour or two. Thanks for your help and support.