- Thread starter
- #11
- Oct 8, 2010
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Sadly, I made lots of calls and found nothing to help feed her. The only avian vet in this area is closed on Fridays- Of course! I called several places- including Pet Smart, a farm feed store, several vets... and nothing. And anything I found is on the internet that could work is an international order which would take months to get here. *Sigh* Is it just not cost effective for companies to carry such a thing? Surely it would sell- maybe not a hit item, but you'd think with how many people want to help their chickens/chicks it would become a demand. Just don't understand why its so difficult to find a crop needle/tube feeding system.
Anyway... Luckily, she seems to be a bit improved this afternoon. I think I wasn't feeding her enough and stepped things up to feeding once an hour- not too much, but just something. But what I've noticed is that she is nibbling now- gobbling as if she is really hungry and willing to eat. Her head is still out of control, (she lunges into the air to the side, upwards.. everywhere but in the food) but if I try and hold her head still for her, I think I manage to get some food into her this way. I take the medicated chick feed and put water in it (and a few drops of milk kefir- its like yogurt) and mix it so that it is a mush, then hold her head up to the tiny dish and she sort of nibbles when I've got the tip of her nose in it. The only bad thing about this set up is that I can't tell how much she is eating. I have seen her twice now do that crop scrunching thing- where the chicken maneuver's their crop with their chest muscles... so I take that as a sign she's eaten her fill and making room for more food. ?? So confusing. I'm going to continue doing this for her and hopefully things will get better.
Anyway, I'm just documenting here. I surely will let you know how it goes- good or bad- hopefully the outcome will be good.
Thanks again for your replies, concern and help.
Anyway... Luckily, she seems to be a bit improved this afternoon. I think I wasn't feeding her enough and stepped things up to feeding once an hour- not too much, but just something. But what I've noticed is that she is nibbling now- gobbling as if she is really hungry and willing to eat. Her head is still out of control, (she lunges into the air to the side, upwards.. everywhere but in the food) but if I try and hold her head still for her, I think I manage to get some food into her this way. I take the medicated chick feed and put water in it (and a few drops of milk kefir- its like yogurt) and mix it so that it is a mush, then hold her head up to the tiny dish and she sort of nibbles when I've got the tip of her nose in it. The only bad thing about this set up is that I can't tell how much she is eating. I have seen her twice now do that crop scrunching thing- where the chicken maneuver's their crop with their chest muscles... so I take that as a sign she's eaten her fill and making room for more food. ?? So confusing. I'm going to continue doing this for her and hopefully things will get better.
Anyway, I'm just documenting here. I surely will let you know how it goes- good or bad- hopefully the outcome will be good.
Thanks again for your replies, concern and help.