Is tubing helpful or prolonging the inevitable

[seminolewind]

The vet said that my chicken broke her femur/near hip. Her leg has so far gone from limp to she can pull it up. She's happy, eating and drinking..........and her stool is runny and that dreaded bluish green. Not eating enough. Should I tube? Today she just flicked all the pellets out of the bowl and really didn't eat anything. She's 6 years old.

 

[Sonya9]

Are dry pellets her main diet? If you have time time I would mix it up. My mareks bird always gets a wet mixture of different things with a base of chicken feed.

She eats best first thing in the morning and it is always a mushy mixture of feed, egg, with rice or liver or something thrown in. I work from home so I a have the time to check on her, during the day I throw in extra stuff, when she is in the yard she eats best when I throw food on the ground for her (corn, or soft chicken feed).

Basically she likes variety (and is no doubt spoiled and expects me to bring something new 3 times a day so she is picky).

Seems to me eating is often a "social" thing for chickens just like people, if you watch the flock they often all graze at the same time, or most start to eat at the same time etc... I think a lone bird that doesn't have that social setting to instigate eating may be part of the problem in some cases.

 

[seminolewind]

She gets the home cooked meals every day, from Exact to sweet potatoes to French toast to scrambled egg. I think you may have a point about eating alone. In the last 2 days, she's been flinging food and not really eating it. Except bread. She's still laying eggs!

I'm worried because lately she's been doing the Marek's bite into the food but not pick up anything.

Maybe I should move her into a pen where she is next to her flock and in a sling?

 

[Sonya9]

Yeah if you can move her in with the flock so she sees them eat (maybe put a little pen around her) that could stimulate her.

And yes, she is likely very high risk for Mareks right now. I decided if any of mine get really ill or injured I am going to start them on antivirals until they are better as often it leads to a fatal case of mareks.

 

[seminolewind]

I was thinking about that too. She's lived thru the whole thing without a vaccine. She was born before I got it here. But I did mix her up an antibiotic cocktail just incase there's something eating her intestine.

And yea. She is doing the Marek's thing where they peck at food but don't pick it up. The most I've gotten into her was a slice of bread every day. Lucky me, I had an adult catheter kit from home care and it's a 14 French and an 16 French and looks like feeding tubes. I'm waiting for a syringe. I found one in my storage, maybe I should use it.

 

[casportpony]

I would tube, but you know me.

Remember to tube fluids first to correct hydration, then fluids with food.

-Kathy

 

[seminolewind]

It's a Polish. What does she need per day?

 

[casportpony]

It's a Polish.  What does she need per day? 

How much does she weigh? Can you get some Kaytee Baby Bird Food?

-Kathy

 

[seminolewind]

I think she weighs about 3 pounds. I have the Kaytee baby food. How many cal/kg/day do chickens need?

 

[casportpony]

Tubing is part art, part science and the trick is finding out what works for you and your bird. With her I would start with just Pedialyte at 15ml per pound, then repeat in 60-90 minutes, but only if her crop has mostly cleared. Then do two to three more times four hours apart. Once hydrated you can start baby bird food. The amount I wood tube is 15ml per pound three to four times a day, and I would mix my Kaytee at 1 part food to 2-2.5 parts Pedialyte for the first couple of days.

Google "refeeding syndrome in birds" and you might find some info on caloric intake. If when tubing you notice any symptoms of "refeeding syndrome", I think it's best treated with fluids and B vitamins. Refeeding syndrome is something I'm looking into right now, so let me know what you find.

-Kathy