Distressed about a Lethargic chicken

[casportpony]

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Key Points

• Estimated crop volume is 50 ml/kg. Begin feeding one-third to one-half of estimated crop volume to the critically ill patient.
• Always tube feed warm formula (100-105°F or 38 to 41°C).
• Tube feeding should always be the last treatment performed.
• Most birds are tube fed between two to four times daily.

At 3.6 pounds she's 1.6kg, so her total crop volume is 1.6 x 50 = 80 ml. A Safe amount to start with would be 25 ml two to four times a day

-Kathy

 

[BarneyNCyndi]

Great, that both gave me hope and scared me. I can't find a crop tube so, I am going to try my fish bubbler tube it is the smallest thing I can find. Now, I am studying chicken anatomy - how long should it be? I called an exotic vet's office doesn't have one to sell. So, note to self - if this works order one from the web.

 

[casportpony]

Great, that both gave me hope and scared me. I can't find a crop tube so, I am going to try my fish bubbler tube it is the smallest thing I can find. Now, I am studying chicken anatomy - how long should it be? I called an exotic vet's office doesn't have one to sell. So, note to self - if this works order one from the web.

Call the vet back and ask them for a size 18 french rubber catheter and a 60ml catheter tip syringe. My peafowl and duck take almost the entire 16", but chickens take about 6"-12", just depends on how big they are. What breed is your bird? Let me know and I'll catch a similar sized one here and measure it.

-Kathy

 

[BarneyNCyndi]

The vet closed 1/2 hour ago. What should I be feeding? I have made a mixture of buttermilk and powered feed. I got 28ml in her doing my waddle tip technicque after getting 2 ounces of treated water. Putting in about 1/2 ml each time I open her mouth. She is now sleeping in my arms. I made sure that the food was warm about 90 degrees. I think all that force feeding has made her tired. I will hold her for a while and try some more after she rests. I couldn't make a mixture with the hard boiled egg. i was thinking of using silken tofu. She seems cold so I have her warming next to me.

 

[casportpony]

She should be kept in a warm room or cage, 80-85 degrees is ideal. Next time you try to feed her, give her just water, or water with a little corn syrup., but only give it to her if you think she warm enough.

-Kathy

 

[BarneyNCyndi]

Good Morning,

Nervous night for me. We put the brooder lamp up to keep Goldie warm thru the night but covered the pen so she wouldnt be disturbed by the light. This morning while holding her I could hear gurgles like gas. I was trying to get a agave/water mixture down her -I don't have any corn syrup. She perked up then went potty. Ok now for potty description. There was a little glob of white cream stuff and the rest was a clear liquid. Is this good? A sign that she is hydrated? I am going to see I'd I can buy a urinary catheter today. 8-10-12 French can I get them from a medical supply place?

 

[casportpony]

You'll want to get as large a tube as possible. 8,10 and 12 I use on baby finches and small chicks.

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[MrsBachbach]

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".

You don't lube it to the point of dripping, just lightly rub the tube with a bit on your fingers. I've done it often enough it is no problem. I don't think my tube extends all the way to the crop. I just make sure I insert it as close to the beak corner as possible. And the amount of water matters not except that a bit of water, while not good, is not going to immediately drown the bird like alot will. If the tube is in the wrong place, it's just in the wrong place. You won't know until the bird starts freaking out. If it's in the right place, there isn't a problem with how much you put in.

 

[casportpony]

I use water as lube and I always insert the tube all the way into the crop. If properly placed, one can feel it on the right side of the neck, so no need to guess if it's in the correct spot or not.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

From another thread:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/920145/tube-feeding-mishap

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