Baytril dosage for sick hen

[vantain]

Seems the issues with my hen are simply reproductive related, as she continues to have trouble with it.

The Baytril that "Eggsessive" recommended has come in, and the recommendation was for "Baytril dosage is 0.05 ml per pound orally twice a day for 5-6 days". When given orally, is that with a syringe, or can I add it to something she eats? What the best way to administer this? It's liquid. I think I need to start this ASAP.

She is lethargic today, all puffed up and not eating. She was fine this morning, running around, scratching and pecking in the run with her flock mates. I noticed this afternoon that she was standing off by herself. I brought her in and that is when she expelled the collapsed egg. She hasn't improved since doing that, and seems to be nodding off to sleep quite a lot.


I failed to do this part with my last post, so here is the info piece:
1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
ISA Brown, 11 months old.

2) What is the behavior, exactly.
She is lethargic today, and expelled an very shriveled soft shell, collapsed egg. It was bloodied.

3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
About a week now

4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
No

5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
Seems to be some internal bleeding, considering the collapsed soft shelled egg is reddish in color.

6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
Reproductive issues it seems

7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
She was drinking a lot today, but not eating

8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Runny

9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Oxytretracycline for two days. Was waiting on the Baytril to arrive. Had her in the house for a few days, observing, and making sure she was getting food.

10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
Self

11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
Pine shavings

 

[Eggcessive]

I would just give the Baytril (enrofloxacin) orally. It tastes bad according to others, and if put in food, she might not take it all. Sorry that she is not acting well. It sounds like her egg laying problems are continuing. Give her some calcium as well.

 

[vantain]

Thanks. It's unbelievably difficult to administer it orally. This bird fights. I managed to get it in there by dripping it on some scrambled egg that she ate from my hand.

In any case, about an hour after my last post from last night, our hen discharged a shell less egg. She perked up considerably after that, and even ate a 1/2 cup of egg and her normal layer crumbles.

I ended up putting her back out with the other hens for the night, and she had a clear crop again this morning. She's currently acting normal again.

I hope this issue clears up. I'll keep her on the Baytril twice a day for the next 10 days as suggested, and continue to give her a little extra calcium.

Also, because she is going to be on the antibiotics for a week or so, do I need to be concerned with feeding her other supplements due to the antibiotics ruining her normal gut bacteria?

 

[Eggcessive]

I think the Baytril is only given for 5 days, maximum 6 days. You have to give it to her as best you can. If you can get her to take it in egg, that works. I use a little of Friskies canned pate cat food to hide meds from my animals. So glad that she laid, but I hope that she straightens up. You might want to check into suprelorin hormone implants to stop laying. They are too expensive for me to consider even if I found a vet to give them, but some with special pets will. Most of my birds with repro problems just seemed to stop laying eggs altogether.

 

[vantain]

I won't pay for any hormone implants. I will help keep her comfortable, and intervene as much as possible, but that is the extent of what I will do.

I would prefer if she did just stop laying permanently. I would prefer that to internal laying or EYP.

We'll see how things progress. Today she is happy and alert. When I went to check on eggs at lunchtime today, she was sitting on three eggs, trying to lay one of her own. I'm pretty certain the three already in there were from the other three hens. This makes me think she is either laying internally, or something else.

 

[Kris5902]

I managed to get mine to take a tiny piece of dry pita bread soaked in it, then hidden a small portion of scrambled eggs with a little plain yogurt, or coated in the “gravy” from my cat food. It took her a while to catch on, and then I would just change up the bait...

 

[vantain]

Poor girl...she's back in the house again, suffering yet another soft shelled egg issue.

 

[Eggcessive]

I don’t think I have heard of one having so many at one time. I suppose she is still getting calcium? Vitamin D 3 and phosphorus are all important in balance with calcium. Is she eating her chicken feed okay? Poultry nutridrench might be good for her today. I hope she feels better.

 

[vantain]

She was eating normal layer feed today..I think. I know she was eating from the feeder this morning, after I fed her her Baytril and a crushed calcium tablet with some scrambled egg.

Right now, she won't drink or eat, probably due to the pain of this soft shelled mess inside of her. She's clearly in pain.

 

[vantain]

I gave her the warm bath, and massages her a bit, but no luck on this one. She’s definitely egg bound. Can’t even get a finger into her vent, it is so swollen.

She’s trying, but really in pain.