Emaciated, not eating or drinking

[casportpony]

So glad you found a tube and got some fluids into her. Any chance you can get someone to do a gram stain on some poop?

 

[CatWhisperer]

So, I fed 8cc baby bird food. Any idea how often I can feed her? She has a lot of catching up to do. I don’t know how fast her crop will empty of liquidy food. Fecal was positive for coccidia.

 

[Eggcessive]

I am thinking that 15 ml per pound 3-4 times a days is the usual amount to aim for with tube feeding. @ casportpony may know more or correct me.

 

[BroodyCluck]

I know the hand feeding formulas like Kaytee are great, but very expensive. I used to sell hand fed Cocktails. I did the hand feeding. Some lovebirds too. I raised birds like parakeets finches for 25 yrs and loved it and miss it.
Any how, I have found that chick starter (for baby chickens) is so much less costly and will break down for tube feeding easily when laying mash crumbles or pellets for laying hens will not do well and will stop up the tubling.(could depend on the brand IDK) Put about a cup or so dry chick starter into a blender and powder it down to use. Then pour the powder through a screen to sift out anything that may stop up the syringe. Now keep this powder in something air tight for use. When you want to mix your feeding when it's time: measure 1 tablespoon of the powder and 2 1/2 tablespoons of water. Mix around to make baby food. Judge it because you may want to add or decrease the powder or the water for the proper consistency. After you see you have it right, then microwave this very briefly. I'm stressing very briefly. Like count to 3 quickly. Mabe 2 !(depending on your microwave oven) You dont want to cook this. Grab out mix and check it now it should be very smooth and load your syringe for feeding.
When bird is sick, I would always suggest underfed but come back soon like 2hrs and do it again. Keep the feeding warm and keep the bird warm. And be sure your hands are warm. After feeding, very gently massage the crop. Before feeding, massage crop again and make sure it has emptied. If it's still full, just massage a bit more and wait a while.
Also keep some of the chick starter not grounded in a dish so the chicken can eat some if its perking up. You could also add some spray millet to the chick starter for the chicken. If you see the chicken has started eating on it's on again, I would stop all tube feeding unless it stops eating. Add some of it's regular food it the eating dish. I would put a heating pad under whatever you have the chicken in be it cage or box. Prayers.

 

[casportpony]

I am thinking that 15 ml per pound 3-4 times a days is the usual amount to aim for with tube feeding. @ casportpony may know more or correct me.

That's about where I would start, and I would gradually increase at each feeding until I was up to 27 ml.

 

[CatWhisperer]

Would feeding raw eggs be too risky?

 

[casportpony]

Would feeding raw eggs be too risky?

Stick with the Kaytee and make sure you get her properly hydrated.

 

[casportpony]

How's her poop looking? I forgot to mention this, you probably already know this, but be sure to weigh her in the morning before her morning feeding. Now that you are tubing fluids and food she should start gaining weight. If she does not gain I suggest that you increase her daily fluids and food.

 

[CatWhisperer]

Thank everybody for your help. She died last night.

 

[Eggcessive]

Very sorry for your loss. I would try to get a necropsy on your pullet to look for a cause of death. At her age, and with wry neck in your silkie, I would test for Mareks disease. I would at least get a basic necrospy. The body needs to be kept cold and wrapped in plastic until Monday am to send to the state vet. Here is a list of state vets where you can contact them early Monday am for details:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm