Today I tried tube feeding Butters and part way in she really objected. Also, the syringe plunger was very stiff, so I had lubricated it all inside with coconut oil and that worked for awhile but then the warm liquid melted it off and it got stiff again. The syringe and tube set I ordered for backups don't fit together. The red tube syringe end is way too big for the tiny nozzle of the syringe and doesn't stay on!
So I decided to try to syringe feed her at least a little bit. Switched to a 3ml size syringe, and guessed at how to do it, but it worked out with a change in hand positioning - I slowly dripped about 1 to 1 1/2 ml of the liquid feed into the front of her open lower beak, then let her beak go. She seemed to be breathing okay between doses. It would go down, then I'd let her go, she would "smack" her beak some like she was clearing what was left in her mouth maybe. She seemed much calmer. I might have gotten maybe 10 ml into her; I could feel her crop bulge a bit. I might try it with a thicker feed mix next time, and /or some honey/sugar water for the liquid, to try to maximize the calories.
I am frankly not expecting her to live but I'm trying to give her a chance with some hydration and calories to see if she'll rally. It is so much like a starvation molt. The vet herself wrote in our latest exchange that she is guessing the problem is a heart or kidneys issue as the root cause of loss of appetite - and the resulting poor nutrition causing her inability to replace her shaggy feathers. So it sounds like it's similar to a starvation molt in effect, but brought on by an organ failure. Her blood work did not point to anything conclusive except her liver seems to be normal so that isn't a suspected culprit. The vet recommended to try to support her as I've been doing.
