Can someone please explain this hen behavior? Is she sick??

[Allegra17]

How is she getting along with the newbies?

Glad your vet was able to get you some Tylosin. If she's not drinking the medicated water, then you'll need to syringe that into her several times a day.

She’s getting along great with the new hens. They have really adjusted to living here and I think they look so happy.

She’s currently quarantined in one part of the coop with the Tylan water and food. I have a piece of tape marking where the water started so I can see if she drank any. I will give her until tomorrow late morning to see if she has had a noticeable amount. I’m crossing my fingers… if not, how do I go about squirting it into her mouth? I’ve watched videos and it’s terrifying me how close their airway is. How do you chicken experts go about this if you have a flailing chicken??

 

[MarshyRooster]

I'm not really sure how to help, I've never had this problem- but I really hope she turns out ok.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She’s getting along great with the new hens. They have really adjusted to living here and I think they look so happy.

She’s currently quarantined in one part of the coop with the Tylan water and food. I have a piece of tape marking where the water started so I can see if she drank any. I will give her until tomorrow late morning to see if she has had a noticeable amount. I’m crossing my fingers… if not, how do I go about squirting it into her mouth? I’ve watched videos and it’s terrifying me how close their airway is. How do you chicken experts go about this if you have a flailing chicken??

Below are a couple of articles you may find helpful.

If she's not drinking well, then syringing may be all you need to do, but of course tubing is going to get more fluids into her. You don't want her dehydrated.

You may want to swaddle her lightly in a towel to help capture her wings, this limits flailing. I like to work with a bird by letting them stand, usually on a table. Easier on my back and they seem less stressed if they have their feet on something solid. I lean into the table, pull the hen to my body with my left arm (she's "locked in" with my left forearm, elbow and body), the allows my left hand to be "free" to help control the head/neck and pull down on wattles to open the beak. Right hand administers medication/fluids and also helps control the hen too.

Once you give fluids a few times, you will find what best works for you. Be calm, take your time. She may protest a bit, just stay calm, wait, talk to her, let her settle (you too!), then continue on. You've got this.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...dications-to-all-poultry-and-waterfowl.73335/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/crop-feeding.75454/

 

[Allegra17]

Below are a couple of articles you may find helpful.

If she's not drinking well, then syringing may be all you need to do, but of course tubing is going to get more fluids into her. You don't want her dehydrated.

You may want to swaddle her lightly in a towel to help capture her wings, this limits flailing. I like to work with a bird by letting them stand, usually on a table. Easier on my back and they seem less stressed if they have their feet on something solid. I lean into the table, pull the hen to my body with my left arm (she's "locked in" with my left forearm, elbow and body), the allows my left hand to be "free" to help control the head/neck and pull down on wattles to open the beak. Right hand administers medication/fluids and also helps control the hen too.

Once you give fluids a few times, you will find what best works for you. Be calm, take your time. She may protest a bit, just stay calm, wait, talk to her, let her settle (you too!), then continue on. You've got this.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...dications-to-all-poultry-and-waterfowl.73335/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/crop-feeding.75454/

Thanks for this. I’m praying she just drinks her water… this seems so stressful. So my next question is how much to give her at once? And how many times a day? It’s Tylan mixed in a liter of water. I would have to give 1,000 mL syringes… not quite sure how to make this work

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks for this. I’m praying she just drinks her water… this seems so stressful. So my next question is how much to give her at once? And how many times a day? It’s Tylan mixed in a liter of water. I would have to give 1,000 mL syringes… not quite sure how to make this work

Well, she wouldn't drink a whole liter in a day. General rule is a chicken drinks around (or needs) fluids that are 10% of her body weight.

 

[Allegra17]

Well, she wouldn't drink a whole liter in a day. General rule is a chicken drinks around (or needs) fluids that are 10% of her body weight.

Oh yeah. I was thinking the whole liter in about 5-6 days. She is almost 5 pounds. I’m was just hoping to have seen some change in the water in the last 16 hours but I just went outside to check and she hasn’t had any water at all yet. Am I really syringe feeding this much water?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Throughout the day, you would want to get that much fluids into her if she's not eating/drinking.

 

[Allegra17]

So she wasn’t willing to drink water or food. We brought her to the emergency vet yesterday and they did a chest X-ray, gave sub Q fluids, and some food through a tube. They prescribed Trimeth-Sulfa as an antibiotic (pill form so we have just inserted it into her mouth and she has swallowed). She’s only been on it for 12 hours but after the fluid yesterday, she’s totally perked up, willing to eat/drink, and roaming the yard for bugs again. Praying this continues. Has anyone ever had their bird on Trimeth Sulfa for a respiratory virus/infection? Has it worked??

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Glad you were able to go to the vet.
Hopefully with her getting hydrated and some meds, she will start ot perk up.

Sulfa medication can be used as prescribed by your vet for respiratory illness. A lot of people use it to treat Infectious Coryza.

 

[seminolewind]

Allegra, I'm happy for you! A vet is a good choice. I think there is a big difference between "yawning" and true illness. You made a good catch. Will be following............