Chicken boarders

[beach chick]

Siouxsie Sioux is currently in the wars - she had a drooping wing on Mon, vet has bandaged her up and said the wing is not broken but her collarbone might be. since then she's been in the garage (warm and dry) in the broody coop. we've just been back to the vet for rebandaging today.

 

she's fine in herself - but not eating, or hardly at all. I've tried her on:

layers pellets

corn

a couple of grapes - she ate one

left over couscous - took a couple of pecks

a cherry tomato

cat food - again a couple of pecks.

 

vet has weighed her and she's lost a bit since Tuesday. what can I feed her to fatten her up??? I'm going to do a mash of layers pellets with some grated cheese in tonight and see if that works... can anyone recommend anything else failsafe and nutritious?

thanks in advance

[Plum]

Poor little thing I would just try tempting her with things, probably what you have given her. Perhaps some wet weetabix because you could put some in her beak without her inhaling it. Try plain yogurt or sultanas whatever she normally goes crazy for.

 

If she is drinking then that is good. Perhaps make food really sloppy so she may try it. Sorry not much help. The vet may suggest something you can syringe into her.

 

I wonder if the droopy wing is a sign of illness rather than injury if she's not eating or she could be in pain it might be worth asking the vet about giving her some metacam

 

Good luck and hope she picks up

[beach chick]

thanks for that advice Plum. Just after I posted I offered her some bread and marmite - no interest at all. So left her half an hour to settle a bit, and then spoonfed her a very mushy concoction of layers pellets mashed with water plus yoghurt, grated cheese and premium catfood (blerk!!).

 

I'm not sure how much I got in her, but definitely some went down and she seemed to enjoy it and was brighter after. also syringed some water in as well, just to make sure she was not dehydrated (altho vet didnt think so). she is on metacam, which I have been giving by syringe because she's not been eating...

 

vet is wondering if something else is going on because of lack of appetite, but she is generally alert, walking well, bright-eyed, no breathing, crop or bottom problems etc etc.

Vet is excellent, she's actually a locum but did a lot of her training with exotics and is delighted to have her hands on a chicken again!

 

just wondering if I should go out and give her some more food now - or whether it is unfair to wake her up, given that it's dark?? prob best to leave her til the morning I guess.

[Redwing]

yes leave her till morning

 

You could try Net tex Nutridrops, they will supply a boost of nutrients which may kick start her appetite, they are excellent for perking up a hen

 

Love your exotic mix of foods mmmmmm

[beach chick]

you're right Redwing, it's too late now.. I will go out and give her an early breakfast before I walk the dog.

She has company in the garage, because we have 2 new baby rabbits who are due to move into a rablu and run within the chicken run - but the weather is too bad to put the babies and Siouxsie out I think (once it warms up a bit/stops blowing a gale/chucking it down she will have their rabbit ark inside the run so is at least in sight/touching distance of the other girls).

 

these chooks do tug at the heartstrings dont they!!

[kerryegg]

Sorry about your problems. Tinned mackerel in oil was never refused by my poorly girl. Hope she picks up soon.

[Pikey]

I found mine liked scambled egg mixed with yogurt, tuna and cod liver oil

[beach chick]

well we have a bit of progress - she helped herself to some left over spaghetti bolognese this morning, and I saw her drinking yesterday, so she is doing some of it for herself (rather than me spooning it into her...) havent got any mackerel, but I'll try her on some scrambled egg later - good idea, thanks all.

[beach chick]

well, we are still hanging on in there. saw vet again today, to have the bandage redone - thats now just over 1 wk, so 3-4 to go (at £9 a bandage change, I will be glad when its over!!)

Siouxsie has now cottoned to being fed by hand, and much prefers to sit on my lap while I scoop horrible mixes of gunge up and once have opened her beak and dropped some in a few times will consent to pecking it out of my hand... meanwhile the other velociraptors circle ravenously waiting for me or Siouxsie to drop something!!