What temps a poorly chook to eat?

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Lucylou

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My poorly chook went downhill yesterday so a trip to the vet & she's now on anti-biotics. She has had very runny poos but I thought she was improving but yesterday a dramatic change for the worse.

The Vet couldn't find anything obvious but said its definately some sort of infection so prescribed a general ani-biotic & to make sure she's eating & drinking.That's the problem, she's not eating now but drinking loads.

Anyone got any tips on how to temp a chook to eat? She's pecked at an apple & a few beakfulls of mash but just looks at it & moves away. I've tried everything I've got! corn, mixed wheat, layers mash & pellets, a few goodies like tomatoe & a grape (she did perk up at the grape!) Does anyone know of something that really tempts them.

Unfortunately I've got to go to work today so won't be around to keep an eye on her so I just hope she pulls through the day.

Grateful for any ideas. Thanks everyone.
 
I give ready brek mixed with warm water. Its gentle on the digestive system and doesn't require too much effort to digest. Or weetabix soaked in warm water so its mushy. But ready brek usually wins it.
 
Things my girls like as a treat.....

green stuff: fresh spinach, dandelion leaves and, strangely and arguably, fresh dock leaves

finely chopped wholewheat bread ( sharp knife, chop one slice into about 10 cuts by 10 cuts so you have a lot of little bite sized pieces. sprinkle some with a little (I do mean very little!) apple juice.

sunflower hearts have been well received, as for some curious reason known only to my girls, black niger seed (nick some from your goldfinch feeder!)

crushed oats, or whole rolled oats mixed in with bread soaked in apple juice has been accepted with a degree of vigour.

I know some folk have used yeast extract of bread, along with finely grated carrot.

If she really won't eat you may have to either use a syringe with a thin plastic tube to put liquid nourishment down her throat or make small pellets of layers mash and put them down her. Much depends for this on how well your bird trusts you and how calm (VERY important) you stay in process. Lets hope it does not come to that. (One option that may be better for pelleting is the egg/biscuit food sold for aviary use and feeding breeding birds and their chicks - I have used this and it has sometimes helped turn a sickly bird around. Get back to me if you want more on this..)

Fingers crossed your girl gets her appetite back, have been through this too many times not to feel for you. Good luck.
 
Thank you both for the advice. Didn't have any Ready Brek but had some rolled oats so mixed some up with warm water & she loved it!! I thought she was never going to stop eating. Having taken no interest whatsoever in anything else the porridge was well received.

She's now had the anti-bio's since Friday eve & although improved still very lethargic & very watery poo. Still eating the porridge but won't touch anything else. But at least she's eating something so that's bound to help a bit.

I'll keep the list of 'tempting foods' handy, good tip.
 
Glad to hear she is enjoying it. Hopefully if she perks up and improves her appetite will return.
 
Hi
I have had similar issues and I find that my poorly girls love blueberries chopped up, live meal worm (gives them something to look at to as they wiggle around...high entertainment factor for poorly chook!) juciy, seedy tomatoes!
I really hope she pulls through. I have been there many times and its a stressful time!
:)
 
Great news - hope progress continues.

One extra thought I forgot to include for sickly chooks.

If you have an area of available lawn, short grass etc, water it with a couple of cans of water and place sickly chook on damp grass. Give her time and every encouragement to potter. She probably won't want to look for worms. The smell of damp earth and grass seems to perk birds up and you get the chance to know that if the worst comes to be, that at least her last few memories were experiencing the outdoors and the smell, feel of grass and soil.

But maybe I'm a hopeless softie.... :)
 
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