The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[lazy gardener]

If you want to try to save the bird, you might try hand feeding with a syringe: KayTee (?sp.) baby bird hand feeding formula. You can buy it at the pet shop. I'm wondering if a weasel got at her.

 

[ki4got]

Are the tubes to the crop on the front, underneath or side? I havent seen any damage to the front. When I syringed the water into her beak she drank it. She was raspy for a bit but that didnt last long. I thought I might have rushed her. I guess I know I should just "man" up. She has enough fight in her but if not eating that cant last long

when the bird is facing you, the trachea is more to the center, the esophagus is to your left (birds right).

it is possible to cause respiratory problems if you give them too much liquid too fast, especially if they're not actively drinking. you're better off dunking her beak and letting her swallow on her own or letting the water dribble out if she won't.

if she's not drinking I might suggest just plain bread soaked in milk. see if she'll eat that. never had a bird turn down bread. LOL and the milk will give some nutrition as well as liquid, and she might eat it more easily on her own.

 

[chicalot]

If you want to try to save the bird, you might try hand feeding with a syringe:  KayTee (?sp.) baby bird hand feeding formula.  You can buy it at the pet shop.  I'm wondering if a weasel got at her.

I've never seen a weasel. I dont think we have them?? Im in central kentucky.

...

when the bird is facing you, the trachea is more to the center, the esophagus is to your left (birds right).

it is possible to cause respiratory problems if you give them too much liquid too fast, especially if they're not actively drinking. you're better off dunking her beak and letting her swallow on her own or letting the water dribble out if she won't.

if she's not drinking I might suggest just plain bread soaked in milk. see if she'll eat that. never had a bird turn down bread. LOL  and the milk will give some nutrition as well as liquid, and she might eat it more easily on her own.
[/quote


Thank you and everyone else for the recommendations. We decided to put her down. It's possible her esophagus was damaged. She was in obvious pain. Even if saved she was already the weakest link. No more banties for me. They're too sweet.

Its good that I dont have to do a necropsy and know mostly what happened. Delisha, I hope you are able to realize what happened to your silkie. That must be a difficult loss with losing a quality bird.

 

[Scott H]

Weasel range. ....

 

[Kassaundra]

Are the tubes to the crop on the front, underneath or side? I havent seen any damage to the front. When I syringed the water into her beak she drank it. She was raspy for a bit but that didnt last long. I thought I might have rushed her. I guess I know I should just "man" up. She has enough fight in her but if not eating that cant last long

Esophogus is on the front side of the neck, if no damage has been done to the front side then that is in the clear. Eating right after a trauma isn't number one priority, drinking is. She could take a good couple of days to really start eating well. If you want to really tempt her to eat try boiled eggs and mashed they will be easy to eat and easy to digest full of good proteins I wouldn't sweat the no eating thing at first, offer the eggs but if she won't eat don't worry to much, make sure she is drinking though.

 

[Kassaundra]

The heart on this silkie was partially white..It was in a dark sack of fluids. I found it quite remarkable and odd to say the least. I took a picture and tried to open the heart to observe the valves and they were also white in color.

The dark connective tissue (pericardial sac) ~~ would be expected but should not have been "full of fluids", but the white cardiac tissue is puzzling??? Was the heart good and firm? any mushy to it?

 

[chicalot]

Weasel range. ....

Well we do have them..never seen one around. They must be the sneakiest

 

[lindz8504]

Amazingly, the woman from the feed store called me back with the information that I had asked about!
The Poultry Maintainer was only 15% protein and $10 / 50lb and the Meat bird feed was 20% and $13/ 50lb. I went ahead and told them to order me 2 bags of the meat bird feed cause I didn't think the maintainer had enough protein for the chicks...????
Hubby went by and picked up a bag of chick starter, oyster shell, and scratch this evening. Got a new batch of feed fermenting so we will see how well that they like it with the scratch added!

 

[delisha]

Are the tubes to the crop on the front, underneath or side? I havent seen any damage to the front. When I syringed the water into her beak she drank it. She was raspy for a bit but that didnt last long. I thought I might have rushed her. I guess I know I should just "man" up. She has enough fight in her but if not eating that cant last long

Culling an animal in pain is a kindness and part of good animal husbandry practices. That was not a minor injury. You did the right thing.

I am sorry for your loss.

Quote: It was the right texture for a young bird. Firm. Just the odd color. I am wondering if it was a blow out so bad it killed all blood supply or something. I never seen anything like it. I will post a picture.

Amazingly, the woman from the feed store called me back with the information that I had asked about!
The Poultry Maintainer was only 15% protein and $10 / 50lb and the Meat bird feed was 20% and $13/ 50lb. I went ahead and told them to order me 2 bags of the meat bird feed cause I didn't think the maintainer had enough protein for the chicks...????
Hubby went by and picked up a bag of chick starter, oyster shell, and scratch this evening. Got a new batch of feed fermenting so we will see how well that they like it with the scratch added!

Your prices are pretty reasonable. wow..prices are almost double here.

 

[aoxa]

Culling an animal in pain is a kindness and part of good animal husbandry practices. That was not a minor injury. You did the right thing.

I am sorry for your loss.

It was the right texture for a young bird. Firm. Just the odd color. I am wondering if it was a blow out so bad it killed all blood supply or something. I never seen anything like it. I will post a picture.

Your prices are pretty reasonable. wow..prices are almost double here.

It usually runs around $16-$19 a 50 pound bag here. We just ordered a whole ton. That's two thousand pounds. LOL

Should do us for the winter. We are going through 200 pounds a week right now. The birds are all almost full grown, and the meaties are eating at least 40% of that.

Tomorrow they are being processed.