How to mix electrolyte water

[c_man99]

Dear BYC crowd,

I have to get some emergency electrolytes into a bird that isn't feeling good and not eating/drinking normally. Is there a ratio somewhere of how much of that stuff per teaspoon (that comes in the 4oz packet) that you mix per gallon (or liter) of water?

I have a small rooster who is not feeling well. He has had his neck "twisted" over for about the last 4 or 5 days now, like he is turning to look at something..but he has it like this all the time. This twisted neck (I think) makes him have a hard time bending over to drink/eat. Also, he is pale with a shriveled comb and waddle, and he has had this for approx. 1 month or longer.

 

[mudhen]

First off, I'm really sorry to hear your rooster has a problem. More knowlegable folks here can probably advise you about both, his problem and a better recipe for electrolyte water.

And now, for a reply that may or may not be of any help at all:
I bought a 8 oz. pouch of electrolyte/vitamins for my chicks at TSC. The salesperson there said "This is what you need!" (I don't think he heard I had a flock of 10 chicks at the time)
I get the stuff home and read the instructions:
Dissolve 1/2 package in 55 gallons for drinking water. Or, as feed additive, mix one package per ton of feed.
Yeah, right. So how much for a quart of water or a pint of feed?

I did the only logical thing...a pinch of the stuff went into the waterer with each change!

 

[c_man99]

My packets both are 4oz ones and they are both the same thing, they say mix one pack (4oz) per 55 gallons of water. A pinch is a portion of a teaspoon (I guess), I was wondering how much you use?

 

[Mike_Winters]

how about Gatorade they give it to race horses so way not that rooster it has electrolytes in it

 

[mudhen]

c_man99 , I wasn't scientific about it, sort of like I learned to cook... a pinch is how much I can hold between my thumb and index finger.
Since your stuff sounds more potent that mine, perhaps a little less than a pinch will do. At this point just get some into your bird. BTW, does it contain vitamins as well as electrolytes? Sounds like he may need both.
Are any of your other chickens experiencing probs?
Sorry I don't know enough about diseases to help out. How about taking him to a vet?

 

[Barnyard Dawg]

Whenever one of our chickens isn’t feeling well my wife will give them some raw apple cider vinegar and to my surprise they always seem to rebound the next day. One chicken in particular I thought was a goner the next day she was as spite as ever.

 

[Wes in Tx]

To answer the original question. Mix at the rate of .43 tsp per gallon. Round up and use 1/2 teaspoon per gallon of water.

 

[c_man99]

The sick one has had a pale, shrunken comb/waddles now for approx. 1 month. Just as of recently (4-5 days), I noticed his neck twisted to the left , like he would be looking at something. But he has it turned this direction all day long. He can still move it fine, but it impeads what would seem to be is natural ability to get food and water easily. Also he is getting sort of weak now and thin, and having trouble walking and standing maybe also because of the neck thing.

 

[Wes in Tx]

That is called twisted neck or wry neck. Go get some childrens liquid vitamins and give 2 drops 2 times a day for 4 days then 1 drop 2 times a day for 4 days and then 1 drop 1 time a day for 4 days.

 

[c_man99]

He is a 1&3/4 yo barred rock/silkie roo. I have got him eating and drinking (with the V&E), but I have to hold him up on one side to get him to eat and drink (usually), since he can hardly stand. He usually just lays there with on leg spraddled out to the side, and can barely walk. )...weak on legs, keeps his toes curled up (in a fist), and barely eating/drinking. Why is he getting so weak now? He has had his comb/waddles shrunk down to approx 1/5 their original size in the past couple of months. I think I also noticed him acting kind of "funny" (lately), but only in the past few weeks has he been getting real weak like this! I had one or two die the exact same way last year. Are worms causing this? I heard they cause dehydration from the inside, is this why his comb and waddles have shrunk? I really don't know why they get sick like this.

If I would be safe to assume that he has worms... (as I am not sure at this point), could someone please recommend what kind of wormer to use at this junction, and how much of it to put into his V&E water.