Bantam with respiratory ailment

[dschwalm]

My juvenile (approx 4 months old) Belgian Antwerp bantam has developed a severe respiratory infection of some kind (sneezing, wheezing, labored breath, some gurgling). After doing some research on a few chicken forums, I did the following yesterday: I brought her in doors, and put her under a heat lamp with fresh water and food, and gave her a .25cc injection of Tylan50. The recommendation I had found online said .5cc, but she weighs at most 1 pound and probably less, so I halved it. I also attempted to get some Terramyacin, but the feed store was sold out; they thought they'd be restocked today, so I plan on getting some ASAP. When I originally brought her indoors, she was upright but lethargic, with droopy tail and wings-basically a miserable little chicken. After her shot, she started to perk up, though her breathing wasn't much better. This morning when I checked on her, she is more active and still eating, but the toes on the leg I gave her injection in are all curled up and she doesn't seem to have a lot of use of that leg! Oh no! I'm looking for advice-she doesn't seem to have enough breast muscle to risk an injection, but I'm worried about continuing in the 'drumstick'. Is this bad for her leg, or is it just sore like after a tetanus shot? Should I be giving her the full .5cc dose? Are there any other medications I should be considering? Special foods? I'd really hate to loose her ):

Thanks for your insight.
D

 

[Airilith]

Instead of the leg area, you can give the shots on the back of her neck. Just pinch the skin and pull up to form a little tent and inject. I'll have to find the link where I read that you can give Tylan 50 SQ, even though it calls for IM. Let me go look.

Edited to add: Here's the link

 

[saladin]

Give it by mouth. It will work much faster. saladin

 

[dschwalm]

Saladin: Do you mean the Tylan or the Terramyacin via mouth?
Arilith: Thanks for the link-ton of useful information associated with it!!

 

[saladin]

The Tylan by mouth.

 

[speckledhen]

Do not give the bird two antibiotics at once. If you have decided to treat the bird, Tylan is the one preferred for respiratory stuff, not the very weak Terramycin. In fact, I wish folks would throw out all their Terramycin. If a bird is sick enough to need real antibiotics, that won't do it. And none will kill viruses, as you know.