High cal foods? Related to Olivia is sick thread

[pawsplus]

So for now I have to help her eat. What are the best ideas for getting maximum cals down her w/ minimum stress? Things that are small pieces but not liquid seem to be easiest on us both -- peas were easy. I can get layer pellets down her, as well.

Other suggestions??

 

[silkiechicken]

Boiled egg. High in protein and vits. Everything you need in it to make a new chicken.

 

[Chickenmaven]

Quote:
Yes, I second that. I have chickens refuse everything except egg.

 

[LynneP]

Will she take yogurt or cottage cheese?
I agree about egg if she'll eat it.

How is she today?

 

[MoodyChicken]

If you're force feeding her, feed her baby bird food with a pinch of electrolytes. Its full of vitamins and minerals and it's high in protein. She'll have diarrhea, but at least she'll be eating. it's easily digested too.

Stop by you local vet and ask for a small chicken-sized force feeding tube and syringe. Oil the tube with olive oil and slide it down her throat to her crop. It's really easy. Have someone hold her and keep her neck straight while you slide the tube down. Fill her crop about half way and repeat as necessary.

 

[pawsplus]

Yikes. I hope I don't have to do the tubing! I got a good bit down her this a.m. by just popping small items in her mouth and they went on down. Wasn't too hard.

I'll make her an egg. Why boiled? Why not raw? I guess I can make it into pieces if boiled, which is good.

And I'm getting her mealworms after work to see if that spikes her appetite. Crossing my fingers that she feels signif. better when I get home!

 

[Wynette]

Baby bird handfeeding formula is probably the best choice in your situation. You can make it thinner or thicker, depending on how much water you use. I use a syringe to get it down them, and feed 4-5 times per day. The syringe I used had a hole that was too small, so I had DH use a very small drillbit, just a hair bigger than the hole, to enlarge it.

This is how I made the slurry I fed: started with some of her regular feed in a blender. Then added about 1/4 cup of baby bird handfeeding formula, a pinch of electrolytes/vitamins, some yogurt, and enough water to moisten. Then, I blended, blended, blended until it was VERY smooth. The smallest of pieces of grain will clog up the syringe, so the key is plenty of blending. THen, I microwave it a bit before feeding each time; that makes it a bit thinner and I think a bit more palatable for them.

Force feeding directly to the crop is easy, BUT - for me, it's definitely a 2-person job. Also, I accidentally aspirated a young pullet the first time I did it...you have to be very, very careful to make sure your helper not only holds her, but keeps a finger on her crop to let you know when she's full. If you can learn to do it, it saves a ton of time and you can get more food down her. But, the syringe feeding is also a nice bonding time, I found. GOOD luck with your girl!

 

[pawsplus]

Quote:
Honestly, I had a MUCH easier time getting small pieces of real food into her. I tried to give her some yogurt w/ acidophilus and that was VERY hard. I just found it impossible to hold her head still for long enough to get more than a drop at a time in. It would take forever. But I was able to pop in peas, pieces of layer pellets, etc. w/ ease.

Is there some reason that it's BETTER to feed liquidy food? B/c it seems to me that solid (i.e., real) food would be better.

I also can't feed 4-5X a day b/c I work and I live 45 min. away from work . . .

I don't have help, so the feeding into the crop thing won't work if it requires 2.

I sure hope she's feeling hungry when I get home!!!!

 

[MoodyChicken]

Liquid food is better because it's easier to digest, the nutrients can be absorbed easier and quicker.

2 a day is okay, not ideal but I forced fed a bird for a month and I only could feed him twice a day.

 

[Renee]

It sounds like you are doing a good job- have you tried the egg? Perhaps she will eat it herself.