Is it safe to eat her?

[Genipher]

Also often overlooked, the older birds have the best down, especially in winter. Do you need a feather pillow?

Interesting idea. She's young, though. Only 10 months old.

 

[Genipher]

I don't think that giving pets bad meat is a good idea at all. Meat in the compost pile sounds like predator bait.

I was considering dog food but I dont want to risk the dogs. When the deed is done, I'll just wrap her up and bury her in the outgoing garbage.

 

[Weeg]

Well, we got them for meat/eggs. I dont think my husband would want to invest a lot of money in her...he's also avoiding going out to cull.

What were your suggestions?

Edit: I tried bringing her in, a week or so ago, and let her swim in a warm bath. Gave her more peas, which she loves. Thats when she started to improve. But now she won't even eat peas...

I'll tag some experts, we'll see what they say. @Miss Lydia @Isaac 0
Who long has she not been eating? Can you make her food a mash offer that to her, maybe by spooning some into her beak? What peas were you offering? Fresh peas, frozen canned peas? If they were fresh and hard, it may have been to difficult for her to eat them, so she decided not to.

 

[Weeg]

I was considering dog food but I dont want to risk the dogs. When the deed is done, I'll just wrap her up and bury her in the outgoing garbage.

Lets see what the experts say if you are interested in saving her, she may still be able to live a long life.

 

[Weeg]

Is she drinking? Are there any signs of trauma to her legs? Swelling, heat, or sensitive areas? Try to find a post on the leg she isn't using that may be hurt.

 

[Isaac 0]

In respect to the original question; I personally choose not to eat sick birds, and would advise others to do the same unless the cause of the symptoms has been establised, and clarified as safe.

If you wish to help her, I suggest bring her in, and set her in a warm area (80F) (watch for signs of overheating such as panting, or wings held away from the body). Birds in an anorexic state have a decreased metabolic heat output and are often unable to maintain normothermia. After she is warm, she should be hydrated with fluids, then given food to address her malnourished state. Although not the most preferred route for a bird in such a state, tube feeding supplies can be easy to aquire and will help maintain her hydration and nutritional status.

For tube feeding, one should have a large syringe (60ml), gram scale, parrot baby feeding formula, or gamebird feed, and lastly tubing; for tubing, a red rubber catheter 18 french size works best for waterfowl, but in a pinch, one could use aquarium tubing, with the tip melted down to prevent esophageal damage. Here is some additional information on the topic:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/tube-feeding-ducks-updated-5-7-2020.1211994/

 

[Pollo Blanco]

I think the official answer with today's health standards is to not butcher any animal that is not healthy. If the bird had a systemic infection you might not want to bring the tainted meat into your kitchen.

Yep

In the industry it's called 'Three Dee'
Dead, diseased or dying.

 

[Genipher]

I'll tag some experts, we'll see what they say. @Miss Lydia @Isaac 0
Who long has she not been eating? Can you make her food a mash offer that to her, maybe by spooning some into her beak? What peas were you offering? Fresh peas, frozen canned peas? If they were fresh and hard, it may have been to difficult for her to eat them, so she decided not to.

Frozen peas that I thawed overnight. So they were soft. Usually she gobbles them up. She just started this morning with not eating.

I keep checking her leg. It's not warm. Nothing wrong with her actual foot (that I can tell).

Last time I let her swim in the tub, she wasn't using the leg to paddle around.

 

[Genipher]

Oh, and she's not able to stand, so she hadn't been drinking. I tried taking her to her food and water but she refused both.

 

[Genipher]

Well, I went out to check on her. Was thinking of bringing her inside and trying the tub again but...she was dead. Died right next to her nesting sister, so at least she wasn't alone.

Feel like I failed her.