Emergency: Hen weak and apparently starving?

[casportpony]

FWIW, my avian vet just told me to give the following to my 2.3kg peafowl that are not eating, they're just picking and I have no idea how much they're drinking. I'm not suggesting that you do this, but just thought you should know how much food and water a bird that weighs 2.3kg should have.

1) 100 ml fluids, either lactated ringers given under the skin (subcutaneously) or Pedialyte given orally by tube.

2) 80-100ml of high protein turkey crumble mixed with water and feed via tube twice a day.

If you decide you want to learn how to tube feed, send me a PM and we'll figure out a way to get it done.

 

[rbaker0345]

To reply to your earlier question. Mareks is a virus that all or most chickens contract. Some chickens are genetically predisposed to showing signs of and eventually dying from mareks. Most chickens have it but never get sick from it. It is actually, arguably, better not to vaccinate for mareks so that birds with a weak gene can't pass it on to too many offspring. But that's not at all what I think your girl has. Did you try calling a vet about having a fecal exam done? Do you have a microscope?

 

[rbaker0345]

Subcutaneous fluids are a good idea and it is very easy, with little training to give fluids under the skin. If you can get your hands on a bag of ringers from a vet, I could walk you through it, it would be less than a paragraph of instructions.

 

[casportpony]

Subcutaneous fluids are a good idea and it is very easy, with little training to give fluids under the skin.  If you can get your hands on a bag of ringers from a vet, I could walk you through it, it would be less than a paragraph of instructions.  

If you can't get any from a vet, try calling a place that does cat/kitten/dog/puppy rescue, they might be willing to set you up. Heck, they might even be able to show you how.

 

[PoultryPedia]

It sounds like this hen isn't needing tube feeding at this point at least, but there are instructions on feeding via "gavage" (ie. force-feeding down the throat) on my 'Baytril for Birds' page on my website linked in my sig below, if anyone is ever needing some. I have found it to be easy & safe. Food in the lungs could be a risk, but chickens' breathing & eating channels become distinctly separate from each other at the back of the throat & it's not hard to stay in the right one.

 

[casportpony]

How is she?

 

[cutechick2010]

Subcutaneous fluids are a good idea and it is very easy, with little training to give fluids under the skin. If you can get your hands on a bag of ringers from a vet, I could walk you through it, it would be less than a paragraph of instructions.

I already have a bag of the LRs on hand for an elderly cat with kidney issues and I give him those sub-q. I actually did give the little hen a couple of cc's of the ringers this morning already. I was not sure how much would be ok to give her. I can give her more if needed, which I am sure it will be. I also did give her a small dose of Ivermectin, I was afraid if I waited until I got to the vet and did a fecal it would be to late.

She was eating a little better this morning, we gave her some rolled oats mixed in a bowl of kefir and she gobbled those right down.

 

[casportpony]

Did you give the hen the fluids SC or orally? How much does she weigh now?

 

[cutechick2010]

Did you give the hen the fluids SC or orally? How much does she weigh now?

I gave them sub-q. I am not sure on her weight, I will have to take the scale over there and check.

 

[casportpony]

There is a website that I found that tells how much fluid to give based on body weight, I'll see if I can find it for you.