fuzzi's Chicken Journal

[fuzzi]

 

[fuzzi]

(Left) After I gave her some eggs/coconut oil mix (syringed) and massaged her crop Lydia tries to eat a little feed, oyster shell flakes, and watermelon. Not much, but she's trying.

 

[fuzzi]

So the advice from an expert is similar to what I have been doing with coconut oil and massage. But I have to go to work tomorrow, Wednesday, Thursday, so I cannot do the oil and massage as often as recommended.


And I will try to tube her, but a good explanation of the process from someone knowledgeable would be appreciated. The idea of tubing her scares me.

 

[fuzzi]

After napping while standing in the middle of the run Lydia made her way slowly to the brooder, where I had added some clean and dry straw.

She made her own bed

and settled in for the night

 

[lightm]

I think it would be a good idea to try slippery elm as it is a natural supplement. It's cheap. The dosage is 27mg-54mg every 12 hours for 7 days (from our vet). The ones I got from the store is powder in capsule. One capsule can probably be used for 10 doses, and I had to use a scale. So you would want to buy a precision scale, which is good for serving powder formed baytril too. However, even without a scale, you can try to use say a fifth of the powder of a capsule, mix it with a little water (and it will become slimy right away) and syringe it to Lydia. It really helps with digestion. Good for humans too.

About tube feeding, it was even hard for the two of us together but I know plenty people done it alone. Here is a video made by fellow member: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-24942265

Tip 1: Use some lube at the end of the tube that goes into her crop.
Tip 2: The mix in the tube should be somewhat liquidy otherwise the tube may pop from the syringe. I guess you are considering tubing liquid which is not a problem, but I was tubing some food.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

So the advice from an expert is similar to what I have been doing with coconut oil and massage. But I have to go to work tomorrow, Wednesday, Thursday, so I cannot do the oil and massage as often as recommended.


And I will try to tube her, but a good explanation of the process from someone knowledgeable would be appreciated. The idea of tubing her scares me.

It's o.k., just do the best you can. If you can only treat and tend to her once daily, do that.

Fuzzi, can you clarify her age? I was thinking she is 17weeks, but when I was going back over the thread, I saw 17months. If she's 17months, when was her last egg?



As promised in the pm, here's what I have for tubing notes. I've never tubed, I usually just syringe medications/fluids, but folks say that tubing is better and there's less risk of aspiration.


https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/crop-feeding.75454/

3rd video down is Kathy (casportpony).
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ures-under-construction.1064392/post-18827506

Video is from Mare, I think it might be easier if a longer towel/cloth is used. Mare is quite experienced with tubing, but you can see that it takes some time for it all to come together.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/need-to-tube-severely-molting-hen.1437023/post-23839502

 

[fuzzi]

Lydia was hatched in April 2023.

I have no way of knowing when she last laid an egg. I just find them in the boxes.

Thank you so much for the info. I'll check it out tomorrow.

 

[fuzzi]

I think it would be a good idea to try slippery elm as it is a natural supplement. It's cheap. The dosage is 27mg-54mg every 12 hours for 7 days (from our vet). The ones I got from the store is powder in capsule. One capsule can probably be used for 10 doses, and I had to use a scale. So you would want to buy a precision scale, which is good for serving powder formed baytril too. However, even without a scale, you can try to use say a fifth of the powder of a capsule, mix it with a little water (and it will become slimy right away) and syringe it to Lydia. It really helps with digestion. Good for humans too.

About tube feeding, it was even hard for the two of us together but I know plenty people done it alone. Here is a video made by fellow member: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-24942265

Tip 1: Use some lube at the end of the tube that goes into her crop.
Tip 2: The mix in the tube should be somewhat liquidy otherwise the tube may pop from the syringe. I guess you are considering tubing liquid which is not a problem, but I was tubing some food.

This is also helpful, thank you.

 

[NanaK]

Thinking about you and Lydia.
Sending prayers for you both.

 

[fuzzi]

The chicks continue to grow

L - R: Tamar, Hannah, Rahab (still protecting her brood from mad hens), Prissy, Silas, Esther

Silas

And Joanna, who doesn't like the roosting Drama Queens