Distressed about a Lethargic chicken

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She perks up and fights so, I am going to delay a tube unless she doesn't take by my syringe encouragement. Since I am home with her, I am going to monitor give her a couple of hours.. She was born in July so, I am not sure if she is considered full grown. She is the about the same size as her sister but 1/2 as light. We have been receiving eggs since November and goldie was our first egg layer.
 
If she's not drinking you'll want to add more than a few ounces of water. You'll want to slowly work your way up to anywhere from 40 to 60 ml at least twice a day. If she isn't eating you can mix some food in the water, but make sure it doesn't clog your tube. Kaytee baby bird food is pretty easy to mix in water and syringe in if need be.
 
She weighs 3.6# which is about 1/2 her sister. I did the weigh myself then pick her up method. I just gave her another ounce maybe a little more of water/corid. I have now mastered the wrap the chicken in a towel (burrito wrap) and use her waddle and open her mouth slightly the 1/2 ml at at time. She tolerated it well. I even tried some of the yogurt egg misture using a baby spoon that worked. Total intake maybe 1 tsp. earlier she pecked at some chicken feed but ignored the yogurt egg mash. She has pooped time x 2 small not much blachish and white. She is just standing in her pen with her back to me. I guess I am in not her favorite anymore. She like the feeling of being wrapped - wanted to go to sleep so, I kept rubbing her back to keep her alert. Will give more fluid in 3 hours.
 
You're doing great. But she will need more nourishment or her muscle may start to deteriorate. I would recommend a tube and a catheter tipped syringe. You can get more in her that way.
 
How much can her stomach hold? I am thing I would try a tablespoon which is 15ml unless someone suggests more. I have only 6 ml syringes on hand but I am giong to the co-op to pick up some larger ones. I don't want to cause her to aspirate. I am thinking I can grind up her food by using a spice grinder and mixing with maybe some buttermilk and make a smooth with a boiled egg.
 
BarneyNCyndi said:
How much can her stomach hold? I am thing I would try a tablespoon which is 15ml unless someone suggests more.  I have only 6 ml syringes on hand but I am giong to the co-op to pick up some larger ones.  I don't want to cause her to aspirate.  I am thinking I can grind up her food by using a spice grinder and mixing with maybe some buttermilk and make a smooth with a boiled egg.
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I think the tube just goes into the crop only, so you should be able to see/feel if it's full. The crop holds the food and doles it out to the stomach when there's room. I'm guessing an ounce of two would fit into your mostly grown bird?
 
I had a buff orp that could take about 50 ml. We worked our way up from about 30. You put the tube down the side. Start from the left side and slide down the right. The air way is directly back and it's near impossible to go down there. Use your other hand to feel the crop fill. She'll let you know if its too much. It's not nearly as difficult or scary as it seems I promise. If possible start to weigh her daily and track it to make sure she gains some weight. I wish you the best. I'll try to find the sites that helped me through it.
 

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