Going downhill fast

Hooray for Mildred! How's she getting on today? This sunshine should perk her up no end?!
Ant
 
She's had the run of the garden today and she's spent a lot of time sunbathing and snoozing in the warmth. Nancy has been really nice to her and chivvied her up when she gets behind and watched over her when she's asleep. Happy bantams :)
 
Much better and eating again marigold. I spoke to the vet about what to do about draining crops. As said by Chris I think, the practice is to drain them using a tube now, although that didn't happen to Mildred. I also didn't know that bright green liquid stain surrounding poo can be stomach bile (as such) as well as signs of infection. Another little fact to store away for the future. :)
 
That's one of the good things about this forum, isn't it - i.e. , we're all learning from each other all the time. When I got my first chickens, back in the 1970s, i had nobody to turn to for advice, there was of course no Internet, also no poultry keeping magazines, and our local bookshop and even the Public Library stocked nothing on chickens. I did buy one book by post, without the benefit of any reviews like you get nowadays, but it was really boring and useless. How our birds survived I really don't know, though they did live long lives and laid well, despite what I now realise were rather overcrowded and dirty conditions. I had a break from chickens after that, and then returned a few years ago, to find a whole different world of help to get started again on poultry keeping. For one thing, plastic coops had been invented!
So do you think an ordinary person, not a vet, could drain a crop easily and successfully using a tube? There are circumstances where crop draining could be a necessary emergency procedure, and whilst I have done it without apparent ill effects by holding the bird upside down and massaging the crop in the classic fashion, I wouldn't know where to start with a tube. Would you perhaps have to insert the tube and then suck to create a siphon effect? (!!!!) it does sound quite invasive to me, compared with the previous method.
 
I've no idea if I could do it or how it works. Think Chris is the only person whos had experience. didn't think to ask vet, but do wonder how it doesn't block airway in itself. another learning project coming on methinks :)
 
Simples! Tube is inserted down the throat. It has the end blocked off and an aperture cut in the side -proper job for this exercise. They don't fuss once the first bit of tube is in (could be shock mind!). Large syringe is connected to the end and contents sucked out, care being taken not to damage the crop (don't suck too much). Airway is a separate tube above the throat accessed via the top of the beak -won't get a tube in there BB. Our vet provided the kit and we have needed it once -mind you Victoria might need it as she won't respond to onions. The more you learn, the more you care and the more work you create for yourself BB. I am happy with that, but at least relaxing at the end with a bottle of wine is cheap here (chicken feed isn't).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top