How to keep a sick chicken from starving to death?

[Amazonlover]

Hello,

I’ve been dealing with a sick chicken-cause basically unknown (apparently she has an enlarged heart and very dense items in her gut, which could be metal). I’ve been giving her an epsom salt flush and also injecting Gatorade into her mouth (hopefully not aspirating her), but I can’t seem to get her to eat more than a couple tiny bites of mushy egg and defrosted figs. I realize she might not survive but am trying to give her a fighting chance and don’t want her to starve to death. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Kiki]

Don't syringe anything in to her mouth. It is EXTREMELY easy to force something down the wrong pipe so to speak and kill her slowly.

You can learn how to tube feed her:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/go-team-tube-feeding-updated-12-29-2019.805728/

 

[Kiki]

Hello,

I’ve been dealing with a sick chicken-cause basically unknown (apparently she has an enlarged heart and very dense items in her gut, which could be metal). I’ve been giving her an epsom salt flush and also injecting Gatorade into her mouth (hopefully not aspirating her), but I can’t seem to get her to eat more than a couple tiny bites of mushy egg and defrosted figs. I realize she might now survive but am trying to give her a fighting chance and don’t want her to starve to death. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Looks like you might have her in a shower. The flooring in a shower is probably cold. Keep her warm while you figure things out. A heating pad on low underneath that cardboard might be a good idea.

 

[Perris]

I realize she might now survive but am trying to give her a fighting chance and don’t want her to starve to death. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I have found the following foods palatable to and nutritious for sick birds - with clean fresh water also available of course - I offer, in separate bowls, small quantities of as many of the following as I have to hand and adjust the offering depending on their response (every bird is different, and their needs may change from meal to meal) :
tinned sardines, live mealworms, milk-soaked bread (real cow's milk, any bread, in small pieces), thinly-sliced thinly-spread peanut-butter sandwich, plain natural live yogurt, egg (in any form), banana, soaked currants or other dried fruit, shelled sunflower seeds, and wet or dry dog or cat food. You also need to ensure they have access to grit.

 

[Amazonlover]

Thank you. I’ve tried egg, mushy chicken feed, oatmeal, blueberries, and cut up defrosted figs. She’s eaten all the blueberries, some of the figs, and a few bites of scrambled egg. I like idea of milk soaked bread and will try that next. I’ve also ordered a 60ml syringe, tube, and powdered feed to try to crop feed her (although that makes me very nervous).

 

[Amazonlover]

I have found the following foods palatable to and nutritious for sick birds - with clean fresh water also available of course - I offer, in separate bowls, small quantities of as many of the following as I have to hand and adjust the offering depending on their response (every bird is different, and their needs may change from meal to meal) :
tinned sardines, live mealworms, milk-soaked bread (real cow's milk, any bread, in small pieces), thinly-sliced thinly-spread peanut-butter sandwich, plain natural live yogurt, egg (in any form), banana, soaked currants or other dried fruit, shelled sunflower seeds, and wet or dry dog or cat food. You also need to ensure they have access to grit.

I tried lactose free reduced fat soaked bread from a hot dog bun and she ate about 1/3 of a hot dog bun! I think this is because I normally play a game with my chickens where I say, “Hot Dog Bun! Hot Dog Bun!” And all the chickens have to jump to get a piece of hot dog bun (which they love). So when I said “Hot Dog Bun!” To her she knew she was getting a treat and she ate most of the pieces up (so, about 1/3 of a hot dog bun)!!! Thank you so much @Perris for the suggestion!

 

[tlcmurphy]

I tried lactose free reduced fat soaked bread from a hot dog bun and she ate about 1/3 of a hot dog bun! I think this is because I normally play a game with my chickens where I say, “Hot Dog Bun! Hot Dog Bun!” And all the chickens have to jump to get a piece of hot dog bun (which they love). So when I said “Hot Dog Bun!” To her she knew she was getting a treat and she ate most of the pieces up (so, about 1/3 of a hot dog bun)!!! Thank you so much @Perris for the suggestion!

Great! Can you try soaking it with a raw egg/milk mix like uncooked French toast? I’d think getting some egg in her would be good

 

[Amazonlover]

Great! Can you try soaking it with a raw egg/milk mix like uncooked French toast? I’d think getting some egg in her would be good

Great idea! I’ll definitely try that tomorrow. She seems to have eaten all she’s going to eat for tonight but maybe she’ll be hungry tomorrow morning.

 

[tlcmurphy]

I would never have thought of offering soaked bread, thanks @Perris!