Need to Tube Severely Molting Hen

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Today was a great day. I did not get to feed her quite as many times, but I can do one more if she’s up closer to my own bedtime. Here are some points of progress:
  • FEATHERS: I can see barring on her feathers, so they are coming out more! In fact, at one point today she was panting, so I turned down the heat. (She still loves her heat lamp, however.)
  • SHE ATE! In addition to four blueberries cut in half and a bit of scrambled egg, I saw Ester pick at some fermented feed. Woohoo! This is HUGE, as I’m back to the office tomorrow and won’t be able to feed her as often. (I’m also running out of formula, but more is coming Friday).
  • MOBILITY: Ester is walking more normally and venturing away from her crate just a little. She’s walking upright again, as well.
  • REGULAR POOP: I saw more normally formed poop today.
  • VOCALIZATIONS: Ester is talking more. She greets me with a bit of a growl. It’s super cute. She also makes tidbitty sounds and sometimes squats when I put her on my lap.
  • LOVE: I never knew I’d grow to love this one so much! I think she knows it and sort of loves me back. Not to sound dramatic, but I don’t think she’d be with us if I hadn’t brought her inside to a warm environment and fed her.
Thanks for letting me share and thanks for all the moral and tubing support. I think our girl is going to be just fine. She’ll get some outside time this weekend and if her feathers are long enough for her to insulate herself, that will be it! I think I’ll need to gradually reduce the heat inside so it’s not a shock. I’ve been keeping the kitchen quite warm.
 
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That is such a wonderful update! :celebrate

I agree that a gradual heat drop would be good. Don't want the poor thing to go into shock.

It's crazy how strong of a bond we build with chickens through things such as this, isn't it?

Here's a pic of my Nilla girl. I still cry over her. They are not just chickens anymore when you become their nurse. They are family. ❤
20200803_183519.jpg
 
Overo Mare said:
That is such a wonderful update! :celebrate

I agree that a gradual heat drop would be good. Don't want the poor thing to go into shock.

It's crazy how strong of a bond we build with chickens through things such as this, isn't it?

Here's a pic of my Nilla girl. I still cry over her. They are not just chickens anymore when you become their nurse. They are family. ❤
View attachment 2479121
Click to expand...
Aww, sweet Nilla girl. What a beauty!
 
Well, shoot. I’m going to run out of formula before the new stuff comes in. Last night I practiced using a hand blender on wet crumble and it still would not get through the 24FR, so then I realized, “Yay, the fermented feed will be softer since it’s been wet longer,” and that worked. It’s just before 6:00am and I’d like to feed her twice before I leave this morning, if possible. Since I will be gone all day and she’s getting some spunk back, I’ll prabably have to put her IN her crate. I had left the door open the last few days, since she’s been hanging out on/in it by choice.
 
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I was unable to weigh Ester, since she has some spunk back. LOL! But she’s going to be fine, I think. She got two meals before I left... one of a mix of blended fermented feed with a little formula and one of straight formula. I left her crate open, so I hope she stays in her area. LOL. I also removed the area heater from the kitchen. She can always get under the heat lamp, if she wants. I turned it off momentarily to take this pic before I left:
1ADACFD7-F6ED-412F-9004-F81A461DEE6A.jpeg
 
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Sometimes, at the egg of their laying season, they can deplete their calcium stores. This Might explain why she was standing the way she was. Not that she is properly hydrated, it's safe to give her some calcium orally.
 

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