fuzzi's Chicken Journal

[fuzzi]

Is this what I need?

https://a.co/d/1HWcAxs

I do have aquarium tubing but only little syringes.

 

[lightm]

Is this what I need?

https://a.co/d/1HWcAxs

I do have aquarium tubing but only little syringes.

I suspect this particular tube is too thin (5 Fr). Mine (given by the vet) is 16 Fr. I think even with your bantam, you want to get something bigger than 5 Fr.

 

[fuzzi]

Okay...I got some epsom salt water in Lydia, not the entire 1/2 cup, but I tried. Her crop felt like a deflated balloon and spongy afterwards.

Two pharmacies on the way home didn't have large syringes.

But I found this in the shed!

Aquarium airline tubing (new) attached.

I wrapped Lydia in an old bath towel though she's too weak to put up much of a fight.

I got water in the syringe, attached the tubing, and miracle of miracles, got the tubing down in the crop. Pee-eew, nasty rotten smell wafted out.

But the syringe was probably too old, might be brittle plastic as it leaked around the tip, above the tubing. I got some of the solution in Lydia, but also some ON Lydia.

Unhappy wet hen.

I massaged the crop after each attempt to flush it. Lydia did her neck gyrations, and belched, nasty smell.

Taking a brief nap afterwards.

After Lydia rested for a few minutes I put her down and she pottered to the back of the coop, to get away from me I am sure.

I'm going out before dark to check on her, make sure she's dry, and give her some Nystatin.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Oh I hope the flush helps.

Poor sweet girl.

It looks like her right eye is dilated too. Does she seem to be able to see?

 

[fuzzi]

SHE'S EATING!!!!!!!

 

[NanaK]

Great news!

 

[fuzzi]

Oh I hope the flush helps.

Poor sweet girl.

It looks like her right eye is dilated too. Does she seem to be able to see?

It definitely helped Miss Lydia.

I woke up with a sore throat and general blah feeling, so I took a day off. I decided since I was home I'd try tubing her again, but I wanted to get some food in her first, her keel is sticking out. She pecked at the watermelon with more interest than before. Then I fed her a yolk/coconut oil mixture using a small syringe (not tube). She still smells sour but not as bad as before.

I want to give her the opportunity to absorb some food before I tube her.

FYI: I checked other hens and their eyes are also dilated. The hoop coop only gets some sun during the day, it's mostly shaded.

 

[fuzzi]

Great news!

 

[lightm]

This is so good to hear!!!

 

[fuzzi]

I tubed her about 10am, her crop was full of epsom salt solution after getting about a quarter cup so I stopped. I massaged her crop, she belched again. It was stinky but not as bad. I gave her Nystatin and released her. She fell over, got up, then went in the back to rest.

I'm going to go check on her in a few minutes.