Can't Get Chicken to Open Beak

[Bellamore22]

I have tried my best to follow the instructions given here and elsewhere for giving liquid medication: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/886914/how-to-give-a-chicken-liquid-I, but no matter how hard I try I cannot get my chicken to stop squirming free from my hand. I tried the "wattle technique" too and I got her beak open, but I had to grip so hard to get her to hold still that I actually cut her wattle a little. Is there any easier way to give them the Trifen-plus tablets if they wont eat them willingly? For now I can try the safeguard paste I guess because its their first dose, but I eventually wanted to use Valbazen when it comes time to switch it out (which will also need a syringe) and in the mean-time would appreciate not having to waste the whole bottle of Trifen.

 

[dawg53]

I have tried my best to follow the instructions given here and elsewhere for giving liquid medication: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/886914/how-to-give-a-chicken-liquid-I, but no matter how hard I try I cannot get my chicken to stop squirming free from my hand. I tried the "wattle technique" too and I got her beak open, but I had to grip so hard to get her to hold still that I actually cut her wattle a little. Is there any easier way to give them the Trifen-plus tablets if they wont eat them willingly? For now I can try the safeguard paste I guess because its their first dose, but I eventually wanted to use Valbazen when it comes time to switch it out (which will also need a syringe) and in the mean-time would appreciate not having to waste the whole bottle of Trifen.

Liquids: You can always put it on a piece of bread for your hen to eat.
Tablets: Crush them into powder and sprinkle it over feed.
Pastes: Again, pastes can be put on a small piece of bread.
Also, you can mix a liquid wormer with a teaspoon of cottage cheese and a small piece of bread all mixed in a small bowl. I've done it with various liquid wormers, but not often. Same with crushed tablets. Your bird will scoff it all up but you have do this one bird at a time to ensure each bird gets the proper dosage...it's time consuming, but it works. There's always one or two stubborn hens that dont want to cooperate lol.

 

[Bellamore22]

Oh, thank you dawg53! I think I was confused by the recommendation to not feed the Trifen-plus with food and thought that applied to other non-paste medications as well for some reason. Oh well, now I know

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[spoikey]

Hold the chicken under your arm like a football and with the same arm use your thumb and index finger to grasp the lower beak and gently pull down. Works every time. Just make sure there isn't a protective rooster around loose.

 

[dawg53]

Hold the chicken under your arm like a football and with the same arm use your thumb and index finger to grasp the lower beak and gently pull down. Works every time. Just make sure there isn't a protective rooster around loose.

x2. That's what I do, but I pull the wattles down and their mouth opens. If it's liquid, got to immediately let go of the wattles after the liquid is squirted in the mouth so the bird can swallow it on her own. If not, she could aspirate.