Can my hen be saved?

[Kissysquirrel]

Hi, I don't know where to begin but I need help, although it may be too late. I know very little (almost none) about poultry. My hen was sitting on her eggs 1 week ago and something attacked her. When I found her the next day her eyes were shut and her beak evidently is broken cause it stays open and I have to hand feed her. The few vets around her know very little about chickens but a lady at the feed store told me about Duramycin-10 which I have been giving her for a week (in water). She cannot eat with her beak like that so another lady suggested feeding her turkey crumbles soaked in water and give her the juice (which I'm doing). Anyway I'm pretty sure she has an upper respiratory infection and the antibiotics don't seem to be working as she cannot breathe good (she wheezes) and sometimes lifts her head up as if she gets air better that way. She occasionally sneezes too, especially when I feed her water, etc. Oh, will putting the liquid part way down her throat so she doesn't spit it out, hurt her? What can I do? I have no money to take her to a vet for professional care. I would appreciate any help...thank you, Vicky

 

[StephanieD]

Hopefully someone has advice for you....

 

[Kissysquirrel]

Thank you. Today she is still wheezing, however she stepped out of her cage by herself and is standing for a longer period. YAY!

 

[StephanieD]

Can you post some pictures of her beak?

 

[Kissysquirrel]

Oh my...HOW do I post a pic?

 

[StephanieD]

Up top there is "UPLOADS" in the blue. Click on that the rest is pretty simple to download your pictures. Then you copy the url for your picture and paste it in your posting!

 

[Kissysquirrel]

Let's see if this works.



Very quickly it showed her when I 'previewed' then came back to the codes. Maybe you can see it. Also, is there a way to change the font's size? Thanks

 

[StephanieD]

Can you take a close up pix of her broken beak? But I do see your pic, good job!

 

[Kissysquirrel]

I'll try to get one tomorrow. Did you click on the picture to enlarge it? It's very easy to see that way. Let me know.

 

[Kissysquirrel]

I'm sorry I still haven't had a chance to take another pic. Good news is that on the 16th her wheezing stopped. YAY! However she is continuing to be listless. I have cut back to giving her antibiotics once a day and the only thing I have to feed her is turkey crumbles and even though it has protein, I'm not sure if it is helping her or if I am supposed to give her a continual diet of that. I don't want to mess up her kidneys.

I was thinking of making a mash but don't have all the ingredients. Can I boil the corn from chicken scratch and barley that I put in my soup? I don't have golden seal and that other stuff but what about using yogurt mixed in for the acidophylus? Here is the recipe I found:

http://www.ehow.com/how_4513326_herbal-mash-sick-chickens.html