What to feed to get weight and strength back?

[newchik715]

I have a bird recovering from an attack and she is all skin and bones now bc she will not eat. She finally ate some eggs and when i took her outside today she picked at the grass. what kind of diet do i need to have her on to get some meat on her bones so she can be strong enough to go back into the flock? Any ideas would be appreciated and very much needed.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

What kind of feed do you have your birds on now? Layer?

 

[newchik715]

The birds in the coop are on layer but the injured bird will not eat the layer pellets even if i mash them up with water.

 

[ZooMummzy]

I have a sick, thin bird recovering from an infection (she went blind from it) and I am feeding her chick starter. I also give her yogurt and scrambled eggs and any meat scraps we have left - anything with protein. It seems to be working and has her eating again.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

If it were me, after reading so many posts on here (no actual experience here sorry) I would do as others say-

plain yogurt and scrambled eggs


Sorry I have no other suggestions. I hope she gets better soon.

 

[The Tinman]

I would like to add that cooked oatmeal(Let it cool) and crumble feed or mashed up pellets.

 

[kannna]

Adding some raisins or apple chunks to the oatmeal will encourage the first try if she is hesitant with the oatmeal. Mine love oatmeal but forget sometimes between the next serving. I find a few raisins thrown on top encourage overcoming the "what the heck is that! let's run away!" feeling.

 

[ivan3]

Might give meal worms a try. We've had luck engaging some pretty puny birds in actually eating instead of the desultory beaking around and blank stares that were the usual responses when other fare was offered (both chooks and window addled Woodpeckers). `Mobile' prey can be mixed in with the `boring' stuff. Minced beef/pork with a bit of fat left on it, grapes in small chunks/rinsed and minced canned peaches, etc. spread on top of 30% Gamebird Starter. Might want to add a few drops of Polyvisol Enfamil vitamins (iron free formulation) to water as well. Good luck!

 

[centrarchid]

Pretty much everything above is sound advice. Once weight starts coming back on, start switching slowly back to standerdiet. Bird does not have to be fully reconditioned for swith to start. Let switch go over several days so gut and bugs it contains can readapt to the more difficult to digest feedstuffs.

 

[newchik715]

i really appreciate the advice. I am going to try evrything with her. I know if she can get her strength back she can be integrated back into the original flock. She just needs enough strength to be able to handle the re establishing of the pecking order.
what do you all think of wet dog food or even cat food?