Wry neck adult hen how long for response after meds. Serious upside down head 3,4 days

[Cuween]

Can anyone please give instructions ontube feeding, especially getting a tube down safely into a hen with neck that writhes around like a snake

 

[Eggcessive]

You may need to get everything assembled and have another help you until it gets easier. Here are some threads about tube feeding and a video:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/go-team-tube-feeding-updated-12-29-2019.805728/

 

[azygous]

This shows the chicken's throat. Note where the syringe is going down the chicken's right side of the throat. That's the esophagus which leads to the crop. Note the hole in the center behind the tongue. That's the chicken's airway and that must be avoided.

Do you have the tubing? About a nine inch piece is all you need. You will feed it into the throat, sliding it along the inside of the mouth and slightly under the tongue. It helps to extend the chicken's neck. If the chicken coughs it means you're trying to put the tube into the wrong hole. Stop and start again.

 

[Redbrew]

I currently am treating an 8 year old silkie hen appearing to have wry neck symptoms.

We are on day 6. She is doing a behavior that looks like preening, with neck stretched down and around her body, bobbing head, sometimes under her wing, and sometimes down under between her legs. Left alone, she walks backwards and doesn't seem to be able to lift her head voluntarily. She is completely unable to eat or drink on her own. However, yesterday, she seemed to hold her head up and be standing on her feet for a few moments on a couple of occasions. For that slight but hopeful improvement, I will be continuing the following regiment:

Every morning, weight her to ensure maintaining weight.

I am tube-feeding baby bird formula 3x a day at 30-35 ml each feeding. This is maintaining her weight (she's a small and very old bird, so may not eat as much as others). Her crop is emptying between feedings and at night and she doesn't seem to struggle with regurgitating (I hold her head up gently, while letting her adjust herself and swallow after the tube feeding).

At one of the feedings, I replace part of the water for the formula with a small bantam egg, whisked completely. I add some drops of straight vitamin E oil to this feeding.

I am watching for improvement or decline (or complete lack of improvement), weight stability, and crop issues. Her poops are normal, so I am feeling like she is nutritionally getting what she needs.

There are lots of youtube videos on tube feeding. Most feed/country stores carry tubes and syringes.