Tube Feeding Ducks - discussion on tube feeding ducks

[Lil Drake40]

Look forward to answers.

 

[casportpony]

Getting over the fear of hurting her.

She had injuries on her neck, yes?

Once that was overrun by desire to save her. It was easy.

That's how it was for me too.

Watching the tube go into the crop was next hardest.

I need to see if I can come up with something to help people with this. ANy suggestions?

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

Very clever!

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

Funny how they do settle down. If one were to somehow place the tube in the wrong whole it would be obvious because the bird would not be able to breathe.

 

[casportpony]

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?

Yeah do you prime and flush the tube?

Great questions!

I don't worry too much about air and priming the tube with the bigger fowl, but I *always* prime the tube when doing smaller chicks and ducklings.

Priming brings up another thought... Tubing can be used to give medications, but if you're using a high volume tube some medication will get left in the tube. What I do to ensure all medication goes in is I pull up enough air to clear the tube and I give it while holding the syringe vertically while plunging from top to bottom. Guess I need to get a picture of that.

 

[casportpony]

This video shows the "priming" of the tube before tubing the duck:

 

[Loopeend]

Watching the tube go into the crop was next hardest.

I need to see if I can come up with something to help people with this. ANy suggestions?

There is no answer for this.
I do it with humans. It is never nice. Neither with humans, ducks or any animals. I guess reminding yourself; it is this temporary uncomfortable thing or it will be worse in the future. A part on feeling uncomfortable lays within you; digging their graves is way harder. So bluntly; suck it up. Remind yourself why you are doing it and what the consequences are when you fail to do it. Take a break if you need to to get yourself together and remind yourself of this fact.
(in cases where it is medical neccesairy to do it, not for foie grass etc.)

 

[Miss Lydia]

Defiantly not foie gras

 

[casportpony]

There is no answer for this.
I do it with humans. It is never nice. Neither with humans, ducks or any animals. I guess reminding yourself; it is this temporary uncomfortable thing or it will be worse in the future. A part on feeling uncomfortable lays within you; digging their graves is way harder. So bluntly; suck it up. Remind yourself why you are doing it and what the consequences are when you fail to do it. Take a break if you need to to get yourself together and remind yourself of this fact.
(in cases where it is medical neccesairy to do it, not for foie grass etc.)

I'm not sure I understand what you are trying to say?

 

[Loopeend]

I'm not sure I understand what you are trying to say?

Sorry, I read your post like;
patrick; 'Watching the tube go into the crop was next hardest.'
you; 'I need to see if I can come up with something to help people with this. ANy suggestions?'

I tried to answer the last question.

 

[casportpony]

Sorry, I read your post like;
patrick; 'Watching the tube go into the crop was next hardest.'
you; 'I need to see if I can come up with something to help people with this. ANy suggestions?'

I tried to answer the last question.

I get confused easily. I am looking for a way to explain to people how to be sure the tube is progressing down the esophagus and not the trachea.

 

[casportpony]

With a large enough tube it's almost impossible to put it in the trachea and it's very obvious it's in the esophagus because you can see the tube under the skin and feathers.