Getting water into sick chick

[Mountain Granny]

Hi,
I have a 9 week old silkie recovering from wry neck. She has had it about 2 weeks. She doesn't want to drink water. I try to give her water with a syringe but she doesn't take much. Mostly shakes her head and flings it all over. She does get wet chick grower. I try to put a little extra water on that for her. She is doing good so I'm not to worried but I really wish she would drink her water like she eats her feed.. Any ideas ??

 

[Swbertrand1]

Here are a few videos on how to get fluids into a chick that won't drink:

The first one here will give you some of the anatomy of a chicken that will help you know what to avoid and where to place the liquids in the mouth. The second video shows how to put it straight into the crop. The third video is a slightly different version of the first.

We've used both methods shown in the videos very successfully with juvenile Silkies, but you may find that having a second set of hands to hold the bird might work better for you.

Hardest part of the process is holding the chicken somewhat still and getting the beak open. My boyfriend found that if he gently grasped the bird's beak that she would open her mouth WITHOUT having to pull on the soft feathers (of a Silkie) under her lower beak. He could pretty much hold her mouth open that way too, even if she tried to pull away because he had her under his arm and her head was already against his chest, so she couldn't jerk her head back and release his grip.

Like the videos say, the chicken will NOT like this, but after a few tries, it's easy-peasy. Just BE SURE you're either putting the fluid to the back and side of the mouth OR all the way down the chicken's throat and into the crop. Whatever you do, do it quickly, and if you are unsure of your position with the syringe, don't push the plunger! Start over and get it in the right place!

Finally, don't give too much at once if giving in the mouth. We try to stay at about a 1/4ml at a time (1/4 cc) for a small Silkie. Multiple small amounts are, in our opinion, better when giving in the mouth so they can swallow. If you're going to the crop, a 1/2ml (1/2cc) at a time is fine.

Video 1:
Shows you where to put the syringe and gives you some anatomy. The last photo in this video before the comments section shows the entrance to the trachea as almost an open, round hole (on that bird anyway). This is where you do NOT want liquid to go! Other photos show it as a slit in the middle of the mouth and forward of the back of the throat. You'll see it, even in the Silkie when her mouth is open.
https://bitchinchickens.com/2020/02/06/how-to-safely-give-oral-medications/

Video 2:
This video is a bit of a down-and-dirty method where the chicken keeper puts the liquid straight into the chicken's crop:
https://video.search.yahoo.com/sear...f4d248fdea7a3924e2a91682ca0a8b65&action=click

Video 3:
This is from a BYC post and combines some of what you see in Video 1 above:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...dications-to-all-poultry-and-waterfowl.73335/

 

[Mountain Granny]

Here are a few videos on how to get fluids into a chick that won't drink:

The first one here will give you some of the anatomy of a chicken that will help you know what to avoid and where to place the liquids in the mouth. The second video shows how to put it straight into the crop. The third video is a slightly different version of the first.

We've used both methods shown in the videos very successfully with juvenile Silkies, but you may find that having a second set of hands to hold the bird might work better for you.

Hardest part of the process is holding the chicken somewhat still and getting the beak open. My boyfriend found that if he gently grasped the bird's beak that she would open her mouth WITHOUT having to pull on the soft feathers (of a Silkie) under her lower beak. He could pretty much hold her mouth open that way too, even if she tried to pull away because he had her under his arm and her head was already against his chest, so she couldn't jerk her head back and release his grip.

Like the videos say, the chicken will NOT like this, but after a few tries, it's easy-peasy. Just BE SURE you're either putting the fluid to the back and side of the mouth OR all the way down the chicken's throat and into the crop. Whatever you do, do it quickly, and if you are unsure of your position with the syringe, don't push the plunger! Start over and get it in the right place!

Finally, don't give too much at once if giving in the mouth. We try to stay at about a 1/4ml at a time (1/4 cc) for a small Silkie. Multiple small amounts are, in our opinion, better when giving in the mouth so they can swallow. If you're going to the crop, a 1/2ml (1/2cc) at a time is fine.

Video 1:
Shows you where to put the syringe and gives you some anatomy. The last photo in this video before the comments section shows the entrance to the trachea as almost an open, round hole (on that bird anyway). This is where you do NOT want liquid to go! Other photos show it as a slit in the middle of the mouth and forward of the back of the throat. You'll see it, even in the Silkie when her mouth is open.
https://bitchinchickens.com/2020/02/06/how-to-safely-give-oral-medications/

Video 2:
This video is a bit of a down-and-dirty method where the chicken keeper puts the liquid straight into the chicken's crop:
https://video.search.yahoo.com/sear...f4d248fdea7a3924e2a91682ca0a8b65&action=click

Video 3:
This is from a BYC post and combines some of what you see in Video 1 above:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...dications-to-all-poultry-and-waterfowl.73335/

Thank you so much !!!

 

[Swbertrand1]

How is your Silkie doing?