Fox attack - limp neck

[casportpony]

Look at this:
https://lafeber.com/vet/tube-feeding-birds/

 

[Loona]

I have been to the only two around here. One is outrageously priced, it cost me more to leave her there than anything, and I know if he saw her, he'd want to euthanize. The other one is not helpful. I've been to another one at that place, she was ok, but is gone. This new one tended to a hen recently that had a large piece of skin missing on her side. She wanted to do surgery and scrape the surrounding skin and she estimated a total cost of 3-4 treatments at 200 dollars each. I told her I was reading this site and blah blah and she said in snippy style that this website is an eyeroll and her nemesis. However I disagreed telling her how helpful it is. I declined the surgery and she gave me Clavamox and Chlorhexidine to clean it and said good luck. Well, I followed advice here and Sweet Pea is just about totally closed up all on her own without surgery. So that's it, there aren't anymore farm vets or avians around here. Its a shame but that's it. One veterinarian did offer to give me a tube a couple years ago, but he wouldn't treat her. My hen finally began to eat/drink on her own. Shew! Well, she does seem to take the water down. It's not dribbling out or choking her. Question, if I can feel the tube in her crop, do I have it right?

 

[Loona]

Look at this:
https://lafeber.com/vet/tube-feeding-birds/

Seems complicated and rather scary. And I don't have the equipment to try this. : \
What do you think of her vent? Is that a prolapsed vent? The fox did tear her in the rear end, not terribly don't see puncture wounds like I do on the neck.

 

[casportpony]

Not sure what to think of the vent.

 

[biophiliac]

Question, if I can feel the tube in her crop, do I have it right?

Yes , that is what I understand from looking at the video.
Apparently it is critical that you do feel the tube in her crop to insure it is correctly placed.

 

[Loona]

Not sure what to think of the vent.

I took some watermelon and crushed it up to make juice and she drank it all up! I did not have to hold her head in order for her to drink. It is still limp and she's weak but she was able to do it herself. Did this on the front porch and she seemed very happy to be in her element with sunshine. We pet her and she was very calm. She nibbled at bread and ate some. Good to see. She is resting again back in the house. I think the watermelon juice gave her some energy.

 

[biophiliac]

A syringe is too stressful and dangerous. Minimum fluid for her is 5% of her body weigh per day. With mine I shoot for no less than 10%.

5% = 23 ml per pound
10% = 46 ml per pound

I took some watermelon and crushed it up to make juice and she drank it all up! I did not have to hold her head in order for her to drink. It is still limp and she's weak but she was able to do it herself. Did this on the front porch and she seemed very happy to be in her element with sunshine. We pet her and she was very calm. She nibbled at bread and ate some. Good to see. She is resting again back in the house. I think the watermelon juice gave her some energy.

Very good news. Still keep in mind the total fluids she needs in 24 hrs to stay hydrated Try to measure what she takes in until back to normal. Scrambled eggs, yoghurt etc may tempt her. Watermelon juice was an excellent idea!!!

 

[Suzi18]

That's awesome. So glad she is doing better

 

[casportpony]

I missed that post about the tube in the crop. Sorry, it's over 100 here today and I'm a little distracted trying to keep my birds cool enough.

If you can feel it in the crop you're safe. Your hen can't hold her head up, and she's pretty much unresponsive, so anything you do is risky.

If you decide to try tubing I strongly suggest that you go get some Pedialyte and use it instead of what you have.

 

[biophiliac]

I am not 'afraid' to do these things though. I'm just nervous to get it wrong. I will do whatever I need to do if it's necessary.

I would feel the same at first, but I really wish I had this skill down. The video I remember best advised having a helper to restrain the bird. I would not attempt it by myself the first time unless there was no choice.