Open-mouth breathing <<Update - I lost her>>

[Sonoran Silkies]

When I need to handfeed, I mix the baby bird formula with water to a mashed potato consistency, and using a 1 cc syringe put the syringe as far down the throat as possible and depress the plunger. For an adult bird I usually give the whole syringe at a time, for smaller birds less. Wait a bit then repeat. She probably needs about 30-40 cc per day; if she is eating some on her own, correspondingly less. The water mixed into the handfeeding formula fulfills her need for water, although it is best to have some she can drink on her own if she chooses.

 

[pips&peeps]

Quote:
This really sounds like ILT. She will more than likely die from this and is extremely contagious as is your clothing and shoes. Please be careful and do not spread this to others.

 

[mylittlezoo]

AmyBella, I thought I ought to add my 0.02 to this, I'm sorry if it sounds like a downer.... I had two birds come down with something similar to this last weekend, except they had pulpy crops and were 'puking' fluid when they put their heads down.... I decided not to hang around and wait and see if it was ILT... I culled the first on Day 2, continued treatment on the second bird, then culled him on Day 3. Where ILT is concerned, sometimes a bird has to be 'removed' rather than risk it spreading to the rest of the flock - and it will. Like wildfire. Sorry.

 

[AmyBella]

I am going to pick up some of the baby bird formula right away! Unfortunatly, I can't get home to feed her until 6 pm, but DH promised to to keep trying all day... He's pretty far from any pet stores, but maybe he can get out for it. Last night I probably got about 20 cc's into her. (Sunflower butter, yogurt, poly-vi-sol & water) This morning, the same. I made a batch of oatmeal and put in in the blender with water until it was thin enough to go into the dropper. We were both covered with it, but my goal was to just get anything with calories and nutrients into her!

Ironically, the closest avian vet is in the little Connecticut town where I grew up! It is about 1 hour 15 minutes away. There is a vet about 45 minutes away that will see chickens, but he is expensive and not really an expert. I also tried to get in touch with Peter Brown "the chicken doctor" but haven't heard back.

She is not making any noise at all despite the mouth breathing. Overnight last night I heard her cough and sneeze once. She is eerily quiet now except when she swallows a lot of liquid. That seems to set off some coughing and head-shaking.

Thank you so much for your caring concern!

 

[AmyBella]

Quote:
Sorry for your losses, zoo! I really appreciate your perspective. It is always a tough decision... I have been considering culling for a couple of days now. It is so horrible to contemplate losing all of them!