EMERGENCY!! I think she may be dying!!!

[casportpony]

These links have some good info.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...cken-and-give-subcutaneous-fluid#post_9910754
http://forum.backyardpoultry.com/viewtopic.php?t=7933

If you let me know how much she weighs, I can help you figure out a feeding/hydrating program for her based on what my vet told me.

You'll need one of these. Size 18 works okay on most chickens, even works on my Old English, but it might be a little big for your girl. Are those polo wraps in the box with her? If so, you might want to get a size 14 and 16 to play with.

These are what I use:

These are the tube sizes

French
Gauge Diameter
(mm) Diameter
(inches)​

3 1 0.039
4 1.33 0.053
5 1.67 0.066
6 2 0.079
7 2.3 0.092
8 2.7 0.105
9 3 0.118
10 3.3 0.131
11 3.7 0.144
12 4 0.158
13 4.3 0.170
14 4.7 0.184
15 5 0.197
16 5.3 0.210
17 5.7 0.223
18 6 0.236
19 6.3 0.249
20 6.7 0.263
22 7.3 0.288
24 8 0.315
26 8.7 0.341
28 9.3 0.367
30 10 0.393
32 10.7 0.419
34 11.3 0.445​

35cc catheter tip syringe


I use Kaytee Baby Bird Food, you can get it at Petsmart or Petco. If my bird is really sick, I mix it with lactated ringers solution or Pedialyte instead of water. You could try using different food, but I have found it's too hard to get through the tube.
​

 

[casportpony]

Two very good links with info on hydration.

http://www.harrisonsbirdfoods.com/avmed/cam/07_emergency_and_critical_care.pdf
http://www.harrisonsbirdfoods.com/avmed/ampa/2.pdf

 

[casportpony]

ORAL NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS
Below are listed some of the oral nutritional supplements that can be gavage-fed to debilitated birds. Various hand-feeding formulas are on the market and, as a whole, are far superior to the homemade formulas used decades ago that contained monkey biscuits, peanut butter and ground seeds. Commercially available hand-feeding formulas for baby birds are often utilized in the treatment of sick and debilitated adult birds. The quantity that can be fed at one time to a sick bird is greatly reduced from that of baby birds. On the average, a baby parrot can accommodate 10% of its body weight per feeding due to the elasticity of the crop and its rapid emptying. Adult birds have a greatly decreased crop capacity, averaging 3% of their body weight. Additionally, sick birds are less tolerant of food in the crop and care must be taken to avoid regurgitation and/or aspiration.
A sick or debilitated bird should always have its hydration corrected prior to attempting to initiate oral gavage-feeding.​

Source: http://www.harrisonsbirdfoods.com/avmed/cam/07_emergency_and_critical_care.pdf

 

[casportpony]

Heat and hydration:

Source: http://www.harrisonsbirdfoods.com/avmed/cam/07_emergency_and_critical_care.pdf

 

[casportpony]

To go with post number 23:

 

[koakritters]

thanks!!!

LOL yes those are polo wraps, she kept climbing out and hitting her head on the desk so they are keeping her in.

i will go look at petco for the bird right now. and then get some pedialyte. i have several syringes so even if i have to squirt it into her mouth for now it's better than nothing...

 

[casportpony]

thanks!!!

LOL yes those are polo wraps, she kept climbing out and hitting her head on the desk so they are keeping her in.

i will go look at petco for the bird right now.  and then get some pedialyte.  i have several syringes so even if i have to squirt it into her mouth for now it's better than nothing...

I would not squirt it into her mouth, she will probably aspirate. If you can't get the tube, get some fish tank air hose while you're at the pet store. You'll then have to heat the end so it's not sharp.

 

[casportpony]

Just a thought... On your way to the store, stop by a vet clinic and ask them for a 35cc catheter tip syringe and a 14,16 or 18 red/orange catheter/feeding tube. Shouldn't cost more than $5.

 

[koakritters]

all the vets are closed around here now. she can still swallow and drink, so i managed to get 12 ccs into her by opening her mouth and dropping several drops in at a time and letting her swallow... she seems okay so far and i can feel it in her crop so i think we're okay for now...

 

[koakritters]

right now she's sitting calmly in her new box on her pillows. i think the most confusing thing is that she doesn't "look" sick. her eyes are bright and apart from the head thing (which she is not doing right now) she seems like her old self, though quieter, she's not talking anymore when she used to keep me up all night "chatting" with me and getting into trouble...