tube feeding a 3mth old turkey poult

[heahaa]

I took the guy to a vet (50mi away). The diagnosis pneumonia. She gave me some meds and some pointers. Tube feeding was suggested but since I am inexperienced in it she thought I might do more harm than good. At this point in the game I believe its do or die. Bird is getting weaker and definitely dropping wieght. So hand feeding is not cutting it. Been reading up on the subject. My biggest confusion esophagus vs trachea. how do I get it in esophagus? How will I know i got the right spot. Is it the opening right on the back of his tongue? What's best to feed in it? Bird formula or a liquified concoction of normal feed?

 

[Eggcessive]

I would read Casportpony's thread on tube feeding. A feeding tube and a 60 ml catheter tip syringe may be obtained from your vet, or you can get some aquarium tubing and a 35 to 60 cc syringe (regular tip) and fashion a tube feeding device. With aquarium or other tubing, you should heat one end that is inserted into the throat to get rid of sharp ends. KayTee baby bird feed is what many use. Here are 2 good links to show you how:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/805728/go-team-tube-feeding
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/gavage-tube-force-feeding-and-medicating-baby-chicks-and-chickens

The trachea or windpipe is where the mark is, and that is not where the tube goes. It should be inserted in the back side of the throat where the esophagus is located.

 

[heahaa]

A picture worth a thousand words! Great threads too! I feel a little more cofident now.

 

[heahaa]

The arrow points at the trachea

 

[casportpony]

I took the guy to a vet (50mi away). The diagnosis pneumonia. She gave me some meds and some pointers. Tube feeding was suggested but since I am inexperienced in it she thought I might do more harm than good. At this point in the game I believe its do or die. Bird is getting weaker and definitely dropping weight. So hand feeding is not cutting it. Been reading up on the subject. My biggest confusion esophagus vs trachea. how do I get it in esophagus? How will I know i got the right spot. Is it the opening right on the back of his tongue? What's best to feed in it? Bird formula or a liquified concoction of normal feed?

With the correct sized tube it's almost impossible to insert it in the trachea (wrong hole). Insert tube on bird's left side, angle diagonally across the tongue to the right and it should slide all the way down into the crop. Properly placed, you will be able to palpate the tube on the right hand side and should be able to feel the end of it in the crop.

If your poult is not drinking, I suggest that you tube some Gatorade or Pedialyte before tubing Kaytee Baby Bird Food. Here are some videos:

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




This one uses a tube like I use​

-Kathy​

 

[casportpony]

Tube should enter where the syringe. Hole at back of tongue is the entrance to the trachea




How To Crop Feed Your Bird Diagram





-Kathy