Plannin tube feed today need some info

[the3ofus+oursixchicks]

I am bringing her moths in from outside and she is gobbeling them down

 

[the3ofus+oursixchicks]

well I guess all my help has went to bed

so I may too. after I find her some more moths she is eating them like crazy!!!

 

[casportpony]

How long is your tube?

If I tell you to give her 60 ml of fluids how are you going to do that? Note that I'm not telling you to give that much, but if I were to, how would you do it?

Do you have 6 10ml syringes that you can do one right after the other? Or will she have to sit there with the tube in while you refill the syringe?

Did you weigh her by holding her on a human scale or did you weigh her on a kitchen or postal scale?

There's a reason I suggest people get a scale, proper tube, food and syringe and it's not because I want to spend your money, it's to ensure that your bird gets proper care and the correct amount of water, then water and food.

Most sick birds will be at least 5% dehydrated, so does she weigh 3.5 pounds, 3.75 pounds or 4 pounds? I really do need to know. Not only do I need to calculate what you need to tube, we need to know if she's losing or gaining weight by weighing her daily, just like a vet does when they have a sick animal in their ICU. Make sense?

-Kathy

 

[the3ofus+oursixchicks]

yes it makes sense. I will have to refill. the tractor supply that's closest to me is like almost 45 min away. there was no way I could make it there before they closed that late in the day. that's why I got the 10 ml. now I can get a bigger one today. I don't have a lot of money but I have already spent prob. 100.00 on her already so 10.00 more aint gonna hurt me. I really want to save her. the tube the vet suggested to me was 12 FR and its 16" long. it was a kitchen scale with lines. it wasn't 3.5 it was over that. more like 3.75.

 

[casportpony]

yes it makes sense. I will have to refill. the tractor supply that's closest to me is like almost 45 min away. there was no way I could make it there before they closed that late in the day. that's why I got the 10 ml. now I can get a bigger one today. I don't have a lot of money but I have already spent prob. 100.00 on her already so 10.00 more aint gonna hurt me. I really want to save her. the tube the vet suggested to me was 12 FR and its 16" long. it was a kitchen scale with lines. it wasn't 3.5 it was over that. more like 3.75.

Again, there is a reason that I suggest the things I do. A 12 is what I would use on a chick, not an adult! Heck, I use a 10 on 30 gram banty chicks. With a tube that small it is possible to stick it in the wrong hole, so you'll have to be extra careful.

Please, only proceed if you have watched, listened to and understood *all* of the videos that I posted.

If she weighs 3.75 pounds, that's 1.7kg and I would start by giving her 30ml of Gatorade or Pedialyte, feel her crop, if it still feels flat, give another 30. Wait a couple of hours or sooner if her crop clears and repeat.

-Kathy

 

[the3ofus+oursixchicks]

it is pretty small but that's what he said. I am so SCARED to do this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will wait til my husband gets home so I can have some help tho.

 

[casportpony]

it is pretty small but that's what he said. I am so SCARED to do this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will wait til my husband gets home so I can have some help tho.

I don't normally say this, but your vet is *wrong*! Did you not listen to what the vet in the video said? Did he not say to use the biggest tube possible? IMNSHO, your hen can't wait for fluids, but she's your hen, so do what you gotta do.

-Kathy

 

[the3ofus+oursixchicks]

i already had the feeding tube. I don't know if I can do it by myself. I watched the video let me make something sure. you go in on the left side and move over to the right??

 

[the3ofus+oursixchicks]

I am afraid I will put it in the wrong spot

 

[casportpony]

You should be able to feel the tube in the esophagus it goes down and once it's there. Again, this would be easier to feel if if it were larger? Curiously, is this the same vet that had a only had a size 16 back in December?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/840194/help-asap/110#post_12429626

-Kathy