Mission: Help Me Save My Tasty Chicken!

[Secretlyspotted]

So the tube feeding has been going really well. I got 60ml into her yesterday (we didn't get started until 4pm, so I figured that was as much as I could do). I gave her another 40ml this morning. I weighed her before I fed her and she was 1180g. Do you have a suggestion about how much I should be trying to get in her total daily? I am feeding her a mix of pedialyte, Kaytee baby bird food, and a tiny bit of Corid. The pedialyte is okay to use with the Corid, right?
She took about five steps on her own this morning, which is more than she has walked in days. Her poop is still really running, green- with a few brown lumps. I looked closely for worms in the poo, but I didn't see any.
And BTW- the majority of my animal experience has been with horses! I saw you have a few from your signature. I have a 9yr old paint gelding that I event. If a horse was a sick as this chicken I would be digging a big hole! And probably going into a mental hospital, I love that horse more than most people I know.

 

[casportpony]

What I have read is that they need 30ml/kg of fluids every 6-8 hours, so I would keep giving the 60ml and do that 2-3 times a day as long as the crop is clearing and she's not vomitting after. I have used Corid and pedialyte together, so I'm pretty sure that's okay, lol. After a few feedings her poop should start to look more normal, but if it doesn't, you need to figure out what could be wrong. If you can, post a picture of her poop.

FYI, she's about the same size as a Banty Cochin that I'm tubing and 60ml is what he gets.

I know what you mean about a horse looking this sick, just went through that with my now deceased Cob gelding.

Way off topic here, but what level do you event at? Just curious...

-Kathy

 

[Secretlyspotted]

So chicken talk first- RIP Tasty. I honestly have no idea what went wrong. She was tube feeding fabulously day before yesterday and then yesterday she threw up a little after the last feed. Then she looked awful this morning. I bathed her a little because her rear was DISGUSTING, she had basically been pooping and then laying in it for days. I just couldn't have that smell in my house any more. Her comb and wattles looked pale and she barley noticed the bath at all. We couldn't get the whole first feed in, it just seemed like she was struggling after 20mL. So we tried again a couple hours later and she couldn't even stand up by then. I decided that enough was enough and sent my husband to dispatch her. He said that she was probably dead before he even cut her head off. Maybe the bath stressed her too much, maybe there was a blockage somewhere, maybe she was just too sick before we started the medicine. Either way, I'm glad we tried to save her, and I am glad she's gone now. I got to explain to my 3yr old about how we don't let animals suffer when they aren't going to get any better. That was a fun conversation, but she's way over it now. Part of living on a farm!
And now horse talk- A MUCH HAPPIER TOPIC! I just switched to evening a year ago, I was a hunter before. So I'm going beginner novice- and even those fences are HUGE. I am so lucky to have a horse that will jump anything you point his nose at. We just won our first BN a couple weeks ago!! I swear, I love my horse so much. If I had to put him down I would be a hot mess. Do you event? We are on opposite sides of the country- I can't imagine how different the horse world must be over there!
And thank you so much for all the advice. I won't hesitate to tube a chick again, it just didn't work out this time.

 

[Secretlyspotted]

Tasty went to heaven today. Her death was much in the same manner as Penelope's. We tried to feed her again and everything came back up. After that she couldn't even stand. My husband went to dispatch her because it was clear at that point that she was done, but he said she was probably dead before he cut her head off. RIP Tasty and Penelope. I can see them together scratching around for meal worms in a beautiful grass meadow in the sky.

 

[schnebbles]

I'm so sorry about Tasty That was sweet what you said about her & Penelope, almost makes me cry. I miss her over there on the couch. I used to wash their butts all the time when they sat in poop.

my last cochin who died (Penny) died the day after I gave her a bath! I think it stressed her out, I blow dried her and while I thought it might feel good to her, apparently not.

I would tube feed again too, no doubt.

I might go to the national show on the 9-10 of Nov in Columbus. Only about an hour away. I will be disinfecting before I would go. It's so close to me, I just feel like I have to check it out.

again, I'm so sorry about Tasty. Were her initial symptoms respiratory? I can't remember.

 

[Secretlyspotted]

Is the national show in Columbus Ohio? Or another Columbus? We have a fairly large city in GA named Columbus as well, and if the show happened to be there it is only an hour away from me too!
No, I never saw any respiratory symptoms with Tasty. Honestly, she just stopped moving, eating, doing anything. I do wish I knew for sure what happened. Our other five chickens seem happy and healthy. Just praying it was a one chicken thing.
And I have a cochin too! A black one named Omelet. She is a cool little pullet, she is best friends with my little silkie named Unicorn. They stick together is an otherwise boring flock (RSL, EE, and maran).

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes the National Poultry show is in Columbus, Ohio each November. It is a huge show with most breeds. Here is a link: http://www.ohionational.org

 

[schnebbles]

I love your names.spotted!

I sure have no clue what might have happened. Sure is sad though.

My 2 paint silkies hung out until Patch died of mareks I got them from the same girl and they were pals.