- Oct 8, 2010
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Need some advice with this situation as I’m not sure what to do.
I have a blind (mostly blind, I found out he can see some light and objects) serama rooster who is two years old. He does not eat on his own. The way I feed him is that I take regular chicken feed, add warm water to it, let it sit and soak in for awhile until it gets the consistency of a sludgy batter. This is also how he gets his water. I will also blend up some bits of fruit, coconut milk, almond milk, or oats and add this to the mixture for variance and as a treat from time to time. He knows it’s time to eat when I hold him and he finds the container of food in front of him. I feed him little bits throughout the day. Ive got a measured amount I make sure he eats everyday. I’ve managed to keep him alive and in good health this way for more than two years. BUT my concern is this:
He must have an empty gizzard since he’s not outside and even if he were he would not see to pick stones for himself. Also, even if I made grit available to him I highly doubt he would know to eat it just as he ignores food in his cage. He needs me to feed him. I’ve made sure his food was always mostly if a liquid yet somewhat solid state (not watery) so that he would not have a problem digesting it. (Think baby food consistency) My concern is that over time, perhaps this is doing damage? Does he need stones for his gizzard anyway?
What pressured me to finally post about this is that tonight I opened a new bag of chicken feed and I noticed it’s very pulpy instead of a soft sludgy batter consistency when I mixed it with water. I stopped feeding when I thought this could cause a problem. I’ll pick up some new feed- hopefully it was just that bag, but I am wondering if anyone could help me, tell me, educate me on how I could help him in case a problem arises with him not having stones in his gizzard. Should I be worried? If, say, this pulpy feed mucks things up for him, his digestive tract, will it make him seriously sick? And if so, what could I do to heal him? (Like, is there some sort of food that will help him clear up any problems in a digestive tract without gizzard stones?).
Also, do you think I should put small stones in his feed or mouth so that he does get some in his gizzard, or is this dangerous? Could he choke on them? I was thinking about getting chick grit- like for parakeets, or I did hear that chick (chicken) feed can sometimes have tiny sand or grit already in it. I’m just not sure what to do, and if I should do anything regarding this issue. Do you have any advice for me?
He does well and I want to continue giving him what he needs. My family enjoys having him as a house pet so this is not an issue of putting him down, or anything like that. His life is great. He isn’t suffering at all and now that I am accustomed to his needs, he isn’t difficult at all to care for. This is just a question of doing what is best for his situation, namely- this fact he doesn’t eat stones, what’s good for his gizzard, what should I be doing for him there?
I appreciate any replies. I understand this situation is not the norm, but any brainstorming on the issue would help me tremendously.
Thanks in advance for any replies.
I have a blind (mostly blind, I found out he can see some light and objects) serama rooster who is two years old. He does not eat on his own. The way I feed him is that I take regular chicken feed, add warm water to it, let it sit and soak in for awhile until it gets the consistency of a sludgy batter. This is also how he gets his water. I will also blend up some bits of fruit, coconut milk, almond milk, or oats and add this to the mixture for variance and as a treat from time to time. He knows it’s time to eat when I hold him and he finds the container of food in front of him. I feed him little bits throughout the day. Ive got a measured amount I make sure he eats everyday. I’ve managed to keep him alive and in good health this way for more than two years. BUT my concern is this:
He must have an empty gizzard since he’s not outside and even if he were he would not see to pick stones for himself. Also, even if I made grit available to him I highly doubt he would know to eat it just as he ignores food in his cage. He needs me to feed him. I’ve made sure his food was always mostly if a liquid yet somewhat solid state (not watery) so that he would not have a problem digesting it. (Think baby food consistency) My concern is that over time, perhaps this is doing damage? Does he need stones for his gizzard anyway?
What pressured me to finally post about this is that tonight I opened a new bag of chicken feed and I noticed it’s very pulpy instead of a soft sludgy batter consistency when I mixed it with water. I stopped feeding when I thought this could cause a problem. I’ll pick up some new feed- hopefully it was just that bag, but I am wondering if anyone could help me, tell me, educate me on how I could help him in case a problem arises with him not having stones in his gizzard. Should I be worried? If, say, this pulpy feed mucks things up for him, his digestive tract, will it make him seriously sick? And if so, what could I do to heal him? (Like, is there some sort of food that will help him clear up any problems in a digestive tract without gizzard stones?).
Also, do you think I should put small stones in his feed or mouth so that he does get some in his gizzard, or is this dangerous? Could he choke on them? I was thinking about getting chick grit- like for parakeets, or I did hear that chick (chicken) feed can sometimes have tiny sand or grit already in it. I’m just not sure what to do, and if I should do anything regarding this issue. Do you have any advice for me?
He does well and I want to continue giving him what he needs. My family enjoys having him as a house pet so this is not an issue of putting him down, or anything like that. His life is great. He isn’t suffering at all and now that I am accustomed to his needs, he isn’t difficult at all to care for. This is just a question of doing what is best for his situation, namely- this fact he doesn’t eat stones, what’s good for his gizzard, what should I be doing for him there?
I appreciate any replies. I understand this situation is not the norm, but any brainstorming on the issue would help me tremendously.
Thanks in advance for any replies.