Tubefeeding question - how long for crop to empty?

[CluckinOnTheYakus]

Sorry if this should be posted elsewhere, it's not really an emergency, but wasn't sure if the nutrition forum was where I should post this or here, if I need to move it please let me know!

I have a little crossbeak chick that is a couple of months old. The last couple of weeks he has been unable to feed himself adequately and has lost weight and been lethargic. I started tube feeding him and he is making improvements. My question is - how long should it ideally take for their crop to empty? I am finding that sometimes his crop stays full the majority of the day from his morning feeding. it is soft, not impacted, but I just really thought that as small as he is, his crop should be emptying faster than that. All day seems a little sluggish to me, but may be normal, I have never had to exclusively tube feed before so I am unsure! I just need a good reference point to see how he stacks up compared to a normal healthy chick. Not sure if maybe @casportpony has a handy chart she could share, or if anyone else has an idea of about how often a crop should empty? Thank you in advance!!

 

[casportpony]

How much does he weigh? How much are you tubing? How many times a day are you tubing? Is he drinking enough water? What does his poop look like?

 

[CluckinOnTheYakus]

He weighs 6.4oz/182g
Tubing between 5-10mls each feeding
Only tubing when crop is empty, which has been approx 2-3 times a day for the past few days.
He just started drinking water unaided again yesterday and I think he is getting enough based on how much he drinks (or attempts to drink at least).
Here is picture of his poop:

It has been extremely watery but has started looking nice the last 24 hrs

Here he is drinking.

His crop seems to be emptying faster today than it has been. Just want to make sure I am feeding him enough now, he is on kaytee exact high fat, I hope that isnt a problem, i accidentally ordered it instead of the regular exact formula.

Is it okay to mix rice cereal with his formula? It was suggested in my special needs chickens fb group, but I knew you would have the answer for sure. Wasn't sure if the iron would be an issue.

 

[casportpony]

What size tube are you using?

The amount you're giving seems about right, but what bother me is the color of his poop... it's way too green. Can you get the lower fat Kaytee or switch to chick or all flock started with about 20% protein? If you tube is big enough you might be able to soak crumble in hot water then use a stick blender or regular blender to get them smoother.

I wonder if he has some sort of bacteria infection, coccidiosis, or worms?

 

[CluckinOnTheYakus]

What size tube are you using?

The amount you're giving seems about right, but what bother me is the color of his poop... it's way too green. Can you get the lower fat Kaytee or switch to chick or all flock started with about 20% protein? If you tube is big enough you might be able to soak crumble in hot water then use a stick blender or regular blender to get them smoother.

I wonder if he has some sort of bacteria infection, coccidiosis, or worms?

What size tube are you using?

The amount you're giving seems about right, but what bother me is the color of his poop... it's way too green. Can you get the lower fat Kaytee or switch to chick or all flock started with about 20% protein? If you tube is big enough you might be able to soak crumble in hot water then use a stick blender or regular blender to get them smoother.

I wonder if he has some sort of bacteria infection, coccidiosis, or worms?

I feel like my flash made his poop look totally different. It's more of grey ish tan color I have no idea why it looks so dark in that pic. I have not seen any worms, but I did see some lice/mites, he had a dawn bath last night. I also ordered a 5lb bag of the regular Kaytee exact so I have plenty of that on hand now.

My feeding tube is currently one of those weak kid syringe kits from Jeffers pet, I also have a softer Foley catheter I have been using he seems to prefer it. Will it be OK to continue with the Kaytee exact rather than trying to blend a crumble? I don't even own a blender right now lol.

He has been doing so much better I thought he was going to die there for a day or two. I think whatever is wrong with him, the worst is over now!

I got you a better poo pic

 

[casportpony]

Poop looks pretty good, but a little too dry, so I would try tubing a more watered down Kaytee and that should help a bunch with getting the crop to clear faster.

 

[CluckinOnTheYakus]

Poop looks pretty good, but a little too dry, so I would try tubing a more watered down Kaytee and that should help a bunch with getting the crop to clear faster.

Thank you! I watered his formula down over the weekend. He has almost drank this whole bottle of water over the weekend too, it was only a 4oz bottle, but he has drank about 3, he is doing so good at drinking on his own now! I am not having much luck getting him to try and eat food on his own tho, and I am not sure how much longer I can smuggle him to work with me.

He weights 196g now. I have no idea how fast he should be putting weight on?? Don't want to under or overfeed him....

Do you think he would be okay if I tube him in the morning at about 7, then again at 4:30 when I get home, and throughout the evening until bed if his crop empties, and leave him to eat on his own during the day? I just don't wanna get busted with a chicken at work and he is starting to move around a be more vocal now. But at the same time, I am scared he won't be able to get enough to eat on his own and will slip back into the state he has been in. I had a baby shower I was hosting saturday (it was next door at my moms so I was able to run home and feed him in the middle of it) but when I got home he had flipped over onto his back and did not have the strength to right himself. He is still a little weak. I am worried he would do something like that during the day while I am at work too.