Tube Feeding Ducks - discussion on tube feeding ducks

[RowanTheRed]

What it like tubing neonates?

slow. the tiny ones just starting out get very small amounts infused by a pump over and hour. They work up to getting it over 30 minutes later/ YEARS ago we just taped the syringe to the isolettes and let the milk flow in by gravity - the higher you taped the syringe, the faster it went. So if the baby didn't tolerate it you just lowered the syringe to slow it down

 

[harmonymw]

slow. the tiny ones just starting out get very small amounts infused by a pump over and hour. They work up to getting it over 30 minutes later/ YEARS ago we just taped the syringe to the isolettes and let the milk flow in by gravity - the higher you taped the syringe, the faster it went. So if the baby didn't tolerate it you just lowered the syringe to slow it down

I actually still did this with my 7yo when he first came home. He hadn’t had his G tube placed yet and was still on NG and only had like 50ml at a time. We didn’t even get the tubing with manual flow control for months.

 

[harmonymw]

What is it like tubing neonates?

Sooo slow. They’ll puke otherwise. And the tube generall stays in place for several days before you reinsert it. I was wondering how you’d tape it to a bird’s face, but the video answered my question.

 

[Lil Drake40]

Good video but I do better being able to see where the tube is going.

 

[casportpony]

Good video but I do better being able to see where the tube is going.

I'll see if I can make something with a better visual.

 

[Lil Drake40]

Thanks!

 

[Patrick McKee]

@Patrick McKee, what was the hardest part about tubing?

Getting over the fear of hurting her.

Once that was overrun by desire to save her. It was easy. Watching the tube go into the crop was next hardest.

Since I was not sure, I measured to top of crop from outside, placed s mark 1/2" higher.

Watched for struggling. If I did it right, she calmed down once it was in.

 

[BantyChooks]

I see lots of you would like to learn. What questions do you have about it?

I voted that, but more accurate would be "I could probably get myself to do it in an emergency, but I'd be thrilled if I never had to do it."

 

[sylviethecochin]

So I realise that this isn't like an injection where you have to be superbly careful about air, but what about air in the tubing and syringe—how much air is in the tube? How well do chickens "burp?" (sorry if that's a dumb question) and is it at all advantageous to make sure there's some air in the syringe so that all of the food/water is pushed ahead of it and there's not as much remaining in the tube? How do you clean the tube/can you reuse the tube?

 

[harmonymw]

Yeah do you prime and flush the tube?