Omlet Smart Autodoor - New in box

[the-marks]

Hi all

 

Has anyone any tips on how to give nutri drops?

 

Barbara is going through a heavy moult and appears very under the weather and seems to have 'drunk' legs - ie. not walking straight and crouching down. From being top girl, the others are now picking on her, drawing some blood from her new quills. For the time being, I've brought her inside in the cat carrier. I tried to give her nutri drops - as per instructions, but no joy opening her beak to get them in! I've made some porridge and put them in that which she does seem to be eating.

 

Has anyone any advice on how to successfully administer nutri drops - or any advice in general on poor Barbaras current predicament?

 

Many thanks

 

Mark

[Eggasperated]

Sorry to hear about Barbara.

I have, on occasion, resorted to putting nutri-drops in some fish flavoured wet cat food, when I had a particularly stubborn hen. I believe cat food is ok for them occasionally as it will give extra protein, but shouldn't be fed on a regular basis.

[dancing cloud]

I found I ended up wearing more than I got into the hen with syringing, so I've put it on cat food too and occasionally covered maggots in it, before letting the poorly hen have them. Much less traumatic and messy !

 

Good luck with Barbara, moulting can really take it out of them.

[The Dogmother]

Syringe feeding is an art and you need to be fairly assertive about it. It's best to have two people, one to hold the hen and hold her head in place, t'other to open the beak - works well if you hold the top beak back - and then drip the Nutri Drops onto her tongue, being careful not to give too much at once.

 

If you can't manage this then it's OK to put it into the food, assuming that she is still eating. If you'd prefer to avoid cat food because of animal welfare issues with the ingredients, then a tin of pilchards or tuna in spring water works really well.

 

Of course, I have to remind you that DEFRA doesn't recommend that we feed our hens any animal by-products

 

I would be concerned about her 'drunk legs' as this isn't normally associated with a moult, but could be a sign of Marek's, which can strike when a bird has a bad moult which compromises the immune system. They will start to hobble, then can have the leg extended behind them with the foot 'pointed'.