RIR Acting Lethargic - Please help

[azygous]

That will work. When you get it home, hold up one end at the level of the beak and then mark the tube at the level of the bottom of the crop, add two inches, and cut it. You want about two inches sticking out of her beak when you get the tube inserted into her crop.

Next, check the cut end for any sharp edges. You may need to melt it slightly to round it off so it doesn't cause any tears as you insert it.

Also, strained baby food meats and veggies are perfect for tube feeding. I will mix about one ounce with raw egg or yogurt so it's runny. You can mix in some Poultry Nutri-drench and if you're giving meds, they can go in the mix. That's the beauty of tube feeding. You get everything into the chicken in one operation.

Warming to 100F helps the food be the same temperature as the chicken's body and it will not be a cold shock going in.

 

[Starburst]

@azygous, great news! I was able to get the tubing and the syringe, and I’ll be trying to do the tube feeding. A little nervous, but hopefully it will go well. If you have any more advice you’d like to give before I start, I’d really appreciate it. You’ve been such an amazing help, and I really can’t thank you enough.

 

[Dottie the Chicken]

Hopefully it goes well! Maybe say a quick prayer before you start!

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is a good video of tube feeding that you may like:

 

[Lemon-Drop]

Should we first start with water? Or a food mixture? If so, how much of each? Thanks!

 

[azygous]

You can mix food water and the kitchen sink and syringe it all in together. I limit the total amount to about three or four ounces so as not to overwhelm the crop.

But first, measure the tube to the depth of his crop and cut it to the proper length. Long tubing is impossible to control as you're trying to keep the tube in place in the crop while trying to inject the food and liquids into the tube. I've done it so many times now that I know that two inches of tubing extending out of the beak is as long as I can handle without things getting wobbly and hard to insert the syringe.

Tips: Warm the mixture. Take it slowly. Extending the chickens neck will make the tubing go into the crop more smoothly. Once in place, close the beak on the tubing to keep him from regurgitating the tube. He will likely be very docile as the food is going into his crop. I believe they find this sensation pleasurable as the crop fills.

Periodically check the fullness of his crop so you don't overfill. If you see the food mixture start to come back up the tube from the crop, he's had enough.

 

[Dottie the Chicken]

How is it/did it go?

 

[Starburst]

A success! Ponyo’s crop is full, and she seems pretty calm! We gave her 2 and a half ounces of food/water/medicine mixture, and it went pretty well! Getting the tube in was pretty stressful, but after several deep breaths, prayers, and attempts, everything went smoothly. Thank you everyone so much - we couldn’t have done it without you!

 

[Lemon-Drop]

Also, when should we do this next? How many times a day? Thank you so much!

 

[azygous]

When her crop is empty, try offering her food in the normal fashion. Leave it available for an hour or so. If she appears weak still and not inclined to eat on her own, then tube her again.

Tubing a sick chicken, I've found, is a balancing act between getting nutrients into them so they don't become too weak to eat, but trying not to tube feed long enough that the chicken isn't hungry naturally and forgets what an empty crop feels like and what she's supposed to do with it.