Hen Losing Weight

[JensChickies]

The Praziquantel dose for chickens is 10mg per 2.2 pounds in case you want to try them.

-Kathy

Yes, thank you!

 

[BayBay Peepers]

Ok the verdict is in...slightly.

Her calcium and phosphorus are low and she has muscle wasting. The liver is ok, blood sugar is the low end of normal, red blood cells are low end of normal, white blood cells are normal. They want to do x-rays to see if she is egg bound. I sure wish they thought to check that in the first place. I can't afford to add that to the bill. I don't feel any swelling anywhere near her abdomen. The vet wanted me to discontinue the Kaytee baby bird food. She wants me to stick to the layer ration and up her calorie intake...or buy a different feed from them which is quite expensive. (stuff like that always seems to happen at this vet)

I'm not convinced I should discontinue the Kaytee feed. I think I'll try to get a calcium pill in her tonight as well as try to calculate how many calories she will need and figure out how I'm going to get them in there. I wish I knew what caused this in the first place. I'm even more confused than before going to the vet.

 

[casportpony]

You could try feeding a turkey or gamebird crumble (27-30% protein) and giving a calcium supplement made for pigeons. With a large enough tube and a blender the crumbles might work. When I feed wet crumbles I use a size 30 tube without any trouble. Calcium is tricky, 'cause it not just the calcium you need to consider, you also have to have the correct ratio to phosphorus and other vitamins and minerals.

-Kathy

 

[BayBay Peepers]

I can pick that up. What other foods are out there that can help regulate the phosphorus and calcium? Is there even a specific number attached to calorie intake each day for a hen.

 

[casportpony]

Just had another thought... Some feed mills make a higher protein layer/breeder pellet, that would give you close to the same protein as Kaytee, but will have the correct percentages of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, D, etc.

As for the ideal caloric intake per day, I don't have a clue.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

http://www.jedds.com/-strse-1939/Morning-Bird-CALCIUM-PLUS,/Detail.bok

-Kathy

 

[BayBay Peepers]

I called the local feed store and the lady I spoke to couldn't find a feed with an elevated calcium and phosphorus level. The highest percentage of protein they have is about 24%. I've heard of a feed mill close by that will customize feed, I may have to call them and see what they have to offer.

To be honest, I don't even think the vet could tell me how many calories. She told me to find out how many are in the feed and she'd calculate it...I haven't found a feed yet that advertises calories.

 

[JensChickies]

What's wrong with using the kaytee? Why did they want you to d/c it?

 

[BayBay Peepers]

I really don't know. Part of me thinks it was just her way of getting me to buy their feed. They do that with my dogs. They want us to switch to their "medicated" food, but I find better ingredients at our pet store.
The vet and the lady at the feed store both recommended giving up, but I just don't think we're there yet. She doesn't seem to be in pain and suffering right now. As long as I can get food and water in her and she seems perky I'm going to keep going.
I'm going to try splitting the feedings up. I'd like to continue with the Kaytee because she seems to be improving and I offer her feed free choice with worms and scrambled eggs. She goes for the eggs and worms still and turns her nose to her regular feed. She never did that before. I think she's telling me she needs something more.

 

[casportpony]

Any feed with 3-4% calcium should be fine if you want to increase calcium. Foods for baby birds and chicks and turkey are in the 1% range, I think. Perhaps the vet wanted to sell you Harrison food? If so, that's good stuff, but too expensive, lol. Call the feed store back and ask what the calcium is on the 24% stuff, but also ask what the date code is... Often the higher priced feeds like it will sit too long on the shelf.

-Kathy