How much should I be trying to get this crossbeak to eat daily? And can I train her to eat sideways?

[Peppercorngal]

My crossbeak Elwood P. Dowd did just fine on his own. He grew up to be a huge rooster! He was never aggressive either. Unfortunately a dog killed him when he was 3.



I just wanted to encourage you to let the chicken try on it's own. You never know what system they will develop to get the nutrition they need! Good Luck!

 

[vivaciouswoman]

Here's a partial exploration: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-cockerel-almost-choked-to-death.1163813/#post-18306322

 

[vivaciouswoman]

A vet saw her, yes? Call the vet and ask for their opinion. The avian respiratory system is complicated, it has many air sacs and lungs, so I would not try get her to cough stuff up unless a vet told me to do it.

Maybe the vet will want to start her on some antibiotics.

You have a cool head! Thanks! Calling!

 

[casportpony]

You have a cool head! Thanks! Calling!

Email your videos to them too.

 

[vivaciouswoman]

Email your videos to them too.

Done!

 

[vivaciouswoman]

Vet isn't in today, and no response to email yet. Little Miss Crossbeak is holding her own and it's warmer outside than inside again, so I've sent her out to be with her brothers and sisters. Fingers crossed she'll be okay.

 

[casportpony]

Has her breathing improved?

 

[WVduckchick]

Glad Kathy was around for that one. I don’t know what to suggest. Has the vet responded?

 

[vivaciouswoman]

Has her breathing improved?

She did a bunch of sneezing/coughing/hiccuping--not really sure what to call it--and her breathing improved. I didn't see anything come out though.

 

[vivaciouswoman]

Glad Kathy was around for that one. I don’t know what to suggest. Has the vet responded?

Nope. He gave me his personal email address, but I've lost it in the chaos here. So I called the vet and got his work email. No reply yet.