Oh I am so glad this is going well! You are doing great!Hi folks. Sorry for being so absent today, but I really had to prioritize Ester. Her longest wing feathers are just starting to stick out in weird directions, so I think they're coming out, too. There is a tiny bit of feathering on her back, but it is hiding a full set of pin feathers, just like everywhere else. Only her neck and head are feathered at this point. And one little cuff of feathers where her "drumstick" meets her foot.
The good news is, we've gotten really good at tubing. She is an excellent little patient, and I'm so proud of her! I just open her crate, gently put my hands behind her to coax her toward me, and then she steps out of the crate and stands in front of me. She allows me to drape the towel over her and gently wrap it around her. I put her onto my criss-cross-apple-sauce lap as quickly as possible, speak to her soothingly, and then do the tubing as efficiently as possible. Then she gets a live meal worm reward. Today she has been tubed fluids four times and feed twice. She pooped after her last bit of fluid, and while it was still watery, it was less kelly green and had a little more substance to it. I shudder to think what would have happened if I hadn't gotten past my fear of tubing today.
Here is the cutest part. Ester likes to sit on my legs for a few minutes right after the tubing. She sort of stands there in a trance and I allow her to stay as long as she likes. Keep in mind, this is my most nervous hen who does NOT like to be handled and does NOT normally lap sit. Clearly she understands I am helping her. I hope we will be friends after all of this!
I'll try to catch up now.
(PS I used to play the banjo and love it, but it's the classic pick-on instrument joke so included it)
Good luck!
She is having trouble standing due to leg weakness and muscle wastage.
