Force feeding a sick chicken - advice needed :)

[Hannah G]

My 3 yrs old Isa brown chicken has been sick for a number of weeks (just diagnosed with salpingitis) iand has become extremely underwiegtht before I noticed she wasn't eating her grain. For the last 10 days I've been feeding her various specially prepared treats but she eats more some days than others (its weird cause each day she has a preferencce for a different food). Yesterday she went to bed with a fairly full crop but today I can hardly feel it so I've bought some insectivore mix and would like to syringe some as I've just started her on anitbiotics today to try to give her a chance to live a little longer. Any advice on how much to give her, or if I even should 'force feed' her would be greatly appreciated.

 

[RosemaryDuck]

I've only tube fed parrots and a few larger birds, but it's fairly the same. You want to have an catheter on hand (a vet can give you one) or tube that's long enough to reach down to her crop. You may have to cut it to length. Put it down her throat but /do not/ force it. You want to palpate her crop as you do this so you can feel the actual tube with your fingers. If you can't feel it or she's struggling against you pull it out and try again. Once you are absolutely sure you can feel it inside the crop, you can push the food from the syringe. You don't want to do it prematurely, because if it's down the wrong hole you can drown/aspirate her. Make sure you aren't overfilling the crop either, as this can make her vomit. Not sure who else I can tag here so I'll add @sourland.

 

[Hannah G]

I've only tube fed parrots and a few larger birds, but it's fairly the same. You want to have an catheter on hand (a vet can give you one) or tube that's long enough to reach down to her crop. You may have to cut it to length. Put it down her throat but /do not/ force it. You want to palpate her crop as you do this so you can feel the actual tube with your fingers. If you can't feel it or she's struggling against you pull it out and try again. Once you are absolutely sure you can feel it inside the crop, you can push the food from the syringe. You don't want to do it prematurely, because if it's down the wrong hole you can drown/aspirate her. Make sure you aren't overfilling the crop either, as this can make her vomit. Not sure who else I can tag here so I'll add @sourland.

Thanks for your reply. I've heard about tube feeding into the crop but don't think I'll attempt this. Just wondering why I can't just syringe some liquid food down in the same (fairly simple) way I just gave her antibiotics - which seemed quite a thick fluid? Is this possible?

 

[RosemaryDuck]

Thanks for your reply. I've heard about tube feeding into the crop but don't think I'll attempt this. Just wondering why I can't just syringe some liquid food down in the same (fairly simple) way I just gave her antibiotics - which seemed quite a thick fluid? Is this possible?

Oh you mean just into her beak? You could, yes. Just be careful not to go to fast, and let her swallow in between (so she doesn't choke). Make sure you're letting her eat it and not just shoving the syringe down her throat. I hope she recovers quickly! Best of luck to both of you.

 

[Hannah G]

Oh you mean just into her beak? You could, yes. Just be careful not to go to fast, and let her swallow in between (so she doesn't choke). Make sure you're letting her eat it and not just shoving the syringe down her throat. I hope she recovers quickly! Best of luck to both of you.

Thank you! I will try

 

[Hannah G]

[QUOTE="Hannah G, post: 23806892, member:
My syringe was too narrow to suck up the insectivore paste. Will have to get one tomorrow and try again. I'll be interested to see if she is more interested in eating tomorrow. She pecks at the food and throws it around in her mouth but then drops it out usually - even her favourite sunflower seeds