How do I get water in to my sick chicken

[bigbird]

I have a sick chicken on antibiotics that is not drinking. She started the meds last night. How can I get water in her? Thanks

 

[klmclain1]

I have not done this yet, however, I have seen advice here about injecting fluids subcutaneously with a syringe. Let me see if I can find it and I'll edit.

OK.. here's one place - but I would do what dawg says below first and see if that works for you. What I'm seeing in this link is to ONLY USE sterile saline if you decide you need to go this direction.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/582965/subcutaneous-injections-for-dehydration-help

 

[dawg53]

Use an eyedropperful of water, pull her wattles down and her mouth will open. Squirt water in her mouth a little at a time releasing the wattles each time...this allows her to swallow on her own and not aspirate. You'll have to do this 4-5 a day or more to keep her hydrated enough until she can drink on her own.

 

[TwoCrows]

Yep, I have been there with a hen that stopped drinking all together. I had to keep forcing the antibiotic water down her throat for 3 full days before she started drinking it on her own. I used the syringe method and loaded about 2cc's worth. But yes, make sure to keep the birds head elevated up and back so it goes down the right pipe.

Good luck with your baby!

 

[bigbird]

Thank you all so very much. Other than electrolytes and vitamins, should I be giving her any type of liquid food? She's not moving and sleeping a lot. She has got worse since last night.

 

[TwoCrows]

I had the same trouble with my hen as she was not eating either. But it appeared to me that she had enough fat on her land, so to speak to get her thru a few days without food. So I drew the line at shoving food down her throat. I figured it she was nauseated then I did not want to stress her system out more than it was.

But it is your call. You can make a complete liquid mash out of her feed and use a syringe to get it down her throat.

 

[bigbird]

Thank you everyone for such excellent advice. Unfortunately she has died. My heart is broke! I know you can't save them all, but she was my first.

 

[klmclain1]

I'm so sorry... hugs

 

[nursekathleen]

Thank you everyone for such excellent advice. Unfortunately she has died. My heart is broke! I know you can't save them all, but she was my first.

so sorry