Early morning attack, Please help!

[coach723]

Just wanted to clarify, it's the birds right side, not the right side as you look at her (I hope that makes sense and doesn't make it worse). Here are some good pictures, took me awhile to find them. Posts #15 and #17 here are exactly what @azygous was saying with great pictures to show you:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/updated-go-team-tube-feeding.805728/page-2

 

[hispoptart]

I have a couple of those very skinny syringes, free from Walmart pharmacy. They are the diameter of a pencil and fit well into the esophagus of a chicken, and are even easy to use on new chicks.

You open the hen's beak and prop it open with your thumb and middle finger. You take the loaded syringe and insert it into her beak and along the wall on the right side of her mouth. This leads directly into the crop.

As long as you remain close on that right side and squeeze out a drop at time, none will get into her airway. I've done this with brand new baby chicks to revive them after travel shock. (Baby chick beaks are even harder to try to pry open than alligator jaws.)

I have a syringe just like the one you describe. I really don't want to stress her out anymore then I have to, do you think it would be ok to let her rest and attempt this when my daughter gets home from work at about 3:00? That way she can help hold her for me.

 

[hispoptart]

Just wanted to clarify, it's the birds right side, not the right side as you look at her (I hope that makes sense and doesn't make it worse). Here are some good pictures, took me awhile to find them. Posts #15 and #17 here are exactly what @azygous was saying with great pictures to show you:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/updated-go-team-tube-feeding.805728/page-2

Thank you I was just about to ask that exact question, you read my mind.
Also thank you for the link that really help.

 

[coach723]

Honestly, I would try to get some fluids in her, 3 PM is a long time away. Hold her in your lap, wrap your arm over and around her with her next to your body, with your left arm (assuming you are right handed), you may be able to open her beak by pulling down on her wattles, especially since she's not feeling terrific. Sometimes once you get a bit of fluid in them they will start drinking on their own. Otherwise, same hold, hand behind the head and fingers and thumb at the corners of her beak, you can lift the tip with your right hand to open the beak and hold with the left hand while you syringe with the right. Again, hope that makes sense. Just take your time until you get comfortable with it.

 

[azygous]

In answer to your concern that you might be stressing your patient, would you worry about EMTs responding to a heart attack victim at your house as possibly stressing the victim?

This is a medical emergency, and timely treatment is crucial.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

 

[janiedoe]

Good luck with Marty. I hope she will be up and running very soon. I also hope you catch that nasty predator tonight.
Please keep us updated.

 

[hispoptart]

Honestly, I would try to get some fluids in her, 3 PM is a long time away. Hold her in your lap, wrap your arm over and around her with her next to your body, with your left arm (assuming you are right handed), you may be able to open her beak by pulling down on her wattles, especially since she's not feeling terrific. Sometimes once you get a bit of fluid in them they will start drinking on their own. Otherwise, same hold, hand behind the head and fingers and thumb at the corners of her beak, you can lift the tip with your right hand to open the beak and hold with the left hand while you syringe with the right. Again, hope that makes sense. Just take your time until you get comfortable with it.

Ok I will do it, you said just a drop at a time, The syringe is a 1 ml, how much should I give her.

 

[hispoptart]

In answer to your concern that you might be stressing your patient, would you worry about EMTs responding to a heart attack victim at your house as possibly stressing the victim?

This is a medical emergency, and timely treatment is crucial.

You are right, I'm going to give it a try.

 

[hispoptart]

@coach723 @azygous Ok I did it with my husbands help. He's heading out today, but is staying a bit longer to help. I was really worried about stressing her out so that's why I was just going to let her rest awhile, but he would have been gone before my daughter got home so I thought it would be better to have help. Anyway, I am shaking so bad right now, I can tell you that's really scarey to do for the first time. She was not happy with us at all and fought us quite a bit at first, but then just seemed to give up. I managed to get almost the full 1ml down her. I could feel her swallowing also. I think what ever got her bit her on the head. I can't find any puncture wounds but her feathers on top are mated. How often do I need to syringe her? also three times now, twice when I went to check on her and then when I went to pick her up to syringe her she just started flopping around, not sure this is a good sign anymore.