Need to Tube Severely Molting Hen

[casportpony]

Have you weighed her yet?

 

[micstrachan]

I’ve never weighed her, but she’s one of my smaller hens. Right now I’d guess a little under 5 pounds?

 

[micstrachan]

Should I just grab her, despite the molt? It doesn’t show in the photo, but she’s almost naked. She was just able to get up onto her little roost to get away from me. Thinking I’ll grab her with a soft towel? She’s hard to reach. Not too smart on my part.

 

[casportpony]

I’ve never weighed her, but she’s one of my smaller hens. Right now I’d guess a little under 5 pounds?

Do you have a food scale you can weigh her on? This is a very important part of the tubing process.

 

[micstrachan]

Do you have a food scale you can weigh her on? This is a very important part of the tubing process.

Yes. Purchased for this purpose.

 

[casportpony]

Great, can you weigh her?

 

[micstrachan]

Just tried to pull her out and wasted a bunch of her energy with the struggle. Rewarded her with a couple live meal worms.

 

[casportpony]

How close is that hen harbor rescue place? Maybe she could come help you?

 

[azygous]

For recalcitrant chickens, I wrap them burrito style in a towel. If she's very combative, an ACE bandage around the towel will secure her even better. The chicken will not try to struggle when they sense their limbs are immobilized.

Look at this photo of the inside of a chicken's throat. You will guide the tube along the right side, avoiding the top of the tongue, and into the esophagus. It's virtually fool proof, and you'll wonder why you ever thought it was a difficult procedure.

The hardest part is prying open the beak and holding it open to get the tube inserted. Once the tube is in, close the beak like a vice to hold the tube in place. Syringing the water or food is easy. Take it slow and gentle, though.

 

[micstrachan]

Thanks. I have pried open plenty of beaks to give meds via pill or syringe or to syringe half mL at a time a baby bird formula. My poor dog has been waiting for hours for her morning walk, so I’m taking her out for a few minutes and giving Ester a break.

Carol, how is May?