Sick SLW- 7 months old- nothing is helping

[casportpony]

I can't remember if I posted any tube feeding info or not, but if she isn't drinking she needs to have her hydration corrected.

• https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...cken-and-give-subcutaneous-fluid#post_9910754
• https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-for-visuals-very-detailed-post#post_11652991

I recommend a size 18 french tube.​

​

Crop feeding videos

These are using a crop needle, not a plastic tube.




This one uses a tube like I use​

French
Gauge Diameter
(mm) Diameter
(inches)
3 1 0.039
4 1.33 0.053
5 1.67 0.066
6 2 0.079
7 2.3 0.092
8 2.7 0.105
9 3 0.118
10 3.3 0.131
11 3.7 0.144
12 4 0.158
13 4.3 0.170
14 4.7 0.184
15 5 0.197
16 5.3 0.210
17 5.7 0.223
18 6 0.236
19 6.3 0.249
20 6.7 0.263
22 7.3 0.288
24 8 0.315
26 8.7 0.341
28 9.3 0.367
30 10 0.393
32 10.7 0.419
34 11.3 0.445​

-Kathy

 

[STaggart]

WOW, that is extensive! lol I guess I will get supplies for tube feeding for my get well kit as well. I just made a mash of food for her and she was pecking at it a bit. I will watch her today and tube feed if need be. Thank you for posting up all the videos, so I don't have to go searching for them!

 

[casportpony]

Some people use aquarium air tubing instead of a catheter, you just need to hold a lighter to the end and melt it a little so that it's smooth.

-Kathy

 

[gander007]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Warning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!​

Someone just posted that the API General Cure that was at their pet store did not have metronidazole in it, it had something else, so check the ingedients to verify that it has 250mg metronidazole.

The API General Cure is has 250mg metronidazole and 75mg praziquantil, so it will take care of the protozoa and tapeworms. The only reason I suggested the API is that if one suspects blackhead there isn't usually enough time to order Fish-Zole or Meditrich.


Below are some blackhead poop pictures. The only bird that died was the one that produced the first picture, all others responded to metronidazole or metronidazole and Clavamox.

-Kathy

Thank you Kathy I am putting this in my save file as for these photos # one is total liver failure
and total system shutdown and the reason for the total white ..........
STaggart , how is Velma doing is she moving around at all eating or drinking on her own
getting better or worse ........ With all the treatment she is getting I am sure the stress
is extreme but she is very lucky to have a caring owner as you good luck .....

gander007

 

[casportpony]

Thank you Kathy I am putting this in my save file as for these photos # one is total liver failure
and total system shutdown and the reason for the total white ..........
STaggart , how is Velma doing is she moving around at all eating or drinking on her own
getting better or worse ........  With all the treatment she is getting I am sure the stress
is extreme but she is very lucky to have a  caring owner as you good luck .....

gander007 

The poop in the first picture was actually a pale yellow, not white, camera effect I guess... If you're curious that's one that I did a necropsy on and there are more pictures and info here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...s-probable-blackhead-five-miles-from-my-place

-Kathy

 

[FowltyTowersEgg]

This chicken is very sick, you have done everything possible and from what I know, all the right things. But there is a point where a sick chicken must be killed. From what you describe as the symptoms it sounds serious. Do not endanger your other chickens by keeping this one around. Even if well-separated, you are going in and out of both locations and YOU could be spreading the disease on your boots, clothes, hands. A quick and painless death is required for your poor sick girl. Buck up, this is part of the process. - Lorna at Fowlty Towers Egg Emporium

 

[seminolewind]

Some people use aquarium air tubing instead of a catheter, you just need to hold a lighter to the end and melt it a little so that it's smooth.

-Kathy

Soaking the tube in hot water to soften it works well. Just cool it off to warm before you use it.

 

[casportpony]

This chicken is very sick, you have done everything possible and from what I know, all the right things. But there is a point where a sick chicken must be killed. From what you describe as the symptoms it sounds serious. Do not endanger your other chickens by keeping this one around. Even if well-separated, you are going in and out of both locations and YOU could be spreading the disease on your boots, clothes, hands. A quick and painless death is required for your poor sick girl. Buck up, this is part of the process. - Lorna at Fowlty Towers Egg Emporium

Culling is a viable option, but it's not what I would do as I don't believe everything has been done yet. If she were mine she would get weighed daily, have 100% of poop inspected, get metronidazole, fenbendazole and another antibiotic like Baytril. She would also get fluids via the tube, then fluids and food. This level of care is labor intensive and costs money, so I can understand if people don't agree, but for those that want to treat aggressively, it's the way to do it, IMO.

-Kathy

 

[STaggart]

Soaking the tube in hot water to soften it works well. Just cool it off to warm before you use it.

I dont think culling her at this point is an option. There are ways around cross contamination. I have one set of I did pick up the items for tube feeding and followed the sizing, feed, and pedialite instructions. I will also add the vit & probos supplement to this as well. I will tube feed her after I get some much needed homework done. I did start weighing her 2 days ago to track her weight loss. In the last 2 days she hasn't lost much, we're talking about a few ounces( only 6oz). I think most of the weight loss occurred in the beginning when I didn't think to track her weight. So far I have only been able to get my hands on the API General Cure. The State vet does not prescribe Flagyl at all. However, I just got off the phone right now with a vet that will prescribe to me Flagyl! YES!!! She said the state vet called her to do this for me. Thank goodness!

 

[gander007]

Hang in there STaggart as long as she is moving on her own and improving
you have something to work with but keeping clean and treating all is
something that needs to be dealt with ,, Take care ......

gander007