Open Contest Official BYC Article Writing Contest - #24

[casportpony]

@casportpony
This contest hasn't ended, right? It says on the top of the page that it has.

Sorry about that! I accidentally changed it to closed when I changed all the other contests today.

 

[Debbie292d]

I would love to see an article about tube feeding chicks and older chickens. I have lost a few chicks that refused to eat or drink despite my best efforts.

This doesn't belong here, but I felt bad reading this so giving you what I know. I've dealt with many chicks and chickens over the years and never had to go as far as tube feeding. Here's the article though if you wish to learn.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ng-guide-pictures-under-construction.1064392/

This thread has some videos and other links in it.

First method I do though for one that won't eat is hand feeding. I mix Kaytee Baby Parrot feed +FAT (available at pet stores, Amazon, and some Walmarts, etc.) with chick crumbles, a raw egg yolk, a couple drops of Poultry Cell, and little water. Make it a consistency so you can form it into balls. Smaller than a pea probably for a chick, but almost the size of a marble for an adult. Open their beak and serve one at a time. Put their beak in some water after a few of these. Give it a rest and feed some later. I do this four or five times a day. I had to do it for a cross-beak and a blind, emaciated chicken we rescued. They both were eating on their own in a couple of days.

 

[redinator]

This doesn't belong here, but I felt bad reading this so giving you what I know. I've dealt with many chicks and chickens over the years and never had to go as far as tube feeding. Here's the article though if you wish to learn.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ng-guide-pictures-under-construction.1064392/

This thread has some videos and other links in it.

First method I do though for one that won't eat is hand feeding. I mix Kaytee Baby Parrot feed +FAT (available at pet stores, Amazon, and some Walmarts, etc.) with chick crumbles, a raw egg yolk, a couple drops of Poultry Cell, and little water. Make it a consistency so you can form it into balls. Smaller than a pea probably for a chick, but almost the size of a marble for an adult. Open their beak and serve one at a time. Put their beak in some water after a few of these. Give it a rest and feed some later. I do this four or five times a day. I had to do it for a cross-beak and a blind, emaciated chicken we rescued. They both were eating on their own in a couple of days.

TY, I'll bookmark it incase I need it at a later date.