Consolidated Kansas

[lizzyGSR]

Lizzy, If your ducks did okay with the duramycin I would think the goose would. However it doesn't cover a lot of illnesses, it would be better than nothing. I would at least soak Lucy's foot in warm Epsom salts water for a minimum of ten minutes. Maybe that will help soften it up and draw some of the fluid out. Too bad you don't have more Baytril. It works so well for these cases.
Sure wish Josiechick would pop on here. She really knows best. I do hope he recovers quickly.

I called the vet to see if I could get some antibiotics for my goose. It sounds like they are pretty busy today, so I am hoping that they'll call me back sooner, rather than later. If I can get some antibiotics from the vet, I'm thinking about making a special trip into town to get them. I really can't afford to wait to treat this b/c of my trip. I'll be gone for a whole week, and I know my DH isn't going to want to have to make the decisions about treatment for my birds, so I'll need to do what needs to be done before I leave and then just leave him with maintenance-type stuff (i.e. soaking, wrapping, giving meds, etc). I am considering doing bumblefoot surgery on my goose this evening. Sadly, I do not have any epsom salts on hand, so I will have to get some when I go to town... Same with some alcohol for sanitizing stuff.

One more question... The last time we did bumblefoot surgery, we didn't have an appropriate knife/scalpel to use. My husband volunteered his cutco hunting knife, but that was really too big of a knife. I used his Cutco brand pairing knife also, and that just didn't seem to do the job as well as I had hoped (sharp knife, but still not the right size). Suggestions on what would work for this situation would be very much appreciated!

Also, I found a website that has a list of antibiotics to choose from in treating bumblefoot. I called the vet to see if I could get a price quote on them. I was thinking that the Amoxicillin would probably be cheaper than the Baytril. Do you think it would be okay to use that instead of Baytril, especially if it is cheaper?

 

[lizzyGSR]

Ok, the vet called and I have arranged to pick up some Amoxicillin and some scalpel blades from them. My DH has agreed to make a trip to town today to get the antibiotic and the other supplies I need to hopefully help my goose get better. I am still not convinced that my duck is better (pants before the others still and is the first to run to water in the mornings). My goose seems to be panting already, even though the other birds (that I hope are healthy) are not. I may end up trying to talk my DH into letting me bring the two affected birds inside for a couple of days with this heat. GRRR!!! Not a happy camper about all of this. I hate having sick animals, and then knowing that I'm going to be leaving is NOT fun.

 

[sharol]

My heart goes out to you. It seems like this stuff happens just when you have to be gone. I realized my favorite chicken had bumblefoot just a week before I had to go to Nevada (left DH in charge, and 2 years later, she is fine), and then a year later, I was scheduled to fly out 2 days after my head hen damaged her leg so badly we were afraid we would lose her. (again, DH in charge, and Scout is back to her old self).

Good luck with the meds and especially with Lucy. I know how those special birds are to a person.

Ok, the vet called and I have arranged to pick up some Amoxicillin and some scalpel blades from them. My DH has agreed to make a trip to town today to get the antibiotic and the other supplies I need to hopefully help my goose get better. I am still not convinced that my duck is better (pants before the others still and is the first to run to water in the mornings). My goose seems to be panting already, even though the other birds (that I hope are healthy) are not. I may end up trying to talk my DH into letting me bring the two affected birds inside for a couple of days with this heat. GRRR!!! Not a happy camper about all of this. I hate having sick animals, and then knowing that I'm going to be leaving is NOT fun.

 

[Trish44]

lizzy, I hope you can get the infection under control & your goose will recover. It sounds like you're getting things gathered up to treat.

It's already over 105 here today yuck! I can't believe it's so hot again, I just hate that. I went out & mowed earlier this morning to try to get some of it done, but it got hot before I finished completely, so I guess maybe I'll finish another day when it's not an oven out there. At least I got the main areas done. I've got to go out after we have lunch & do some watering birds, the poor things & spray down the rabbits. I lost one of my Mini Rex bucks a couple days ago & it wasn't even this hot. I just hated that I lost one of my favorite bucks, he was such a good boy. RIP Snickers.

 

[cherwill]

I had a lovely surprise yesterday! After writing that about scrounging for canning jars to do the latest batch, I went out to the garage and found a whole box of brand new jars. I bought them a couple of weeks ago, unloaded them from the car to the garage and never got them any further. When I went looking for jars yesterday, I totally forgot about the new box in the garage! So now I know I have some for next time....

Sweet! Fill those babies up!

The forecast says 98, but it's already 105. We had to go to my BIL's father's funeral this morning, so of course we were out watering in the garden at 2.

 

[lizzyGSR]

My heart goes out to you. It seems like this stuff happens just when you have to be gone. I realized my favorite chicken had bumblefoot just a week before I had to go to Nevada (left DH in charge, and 2 years later, she is fine), and then a year later, I was scheduled to fly out 2 days after my head hen damaged her leg so badly we were afraid we would lose her. (again, DH in charge, and Scout is back to her old self).

Good luck with the meds and especially with Lucy. I know how those special birds are to a person.

Thank you! And thanks for the stoties w/ good outcomes!

lizzy, I hope you can get the infection under control & your goose will recover. It sounds like you're getting things gathered up to treat.

It's already over 105 here today yuck! I can't believe it's so hot again, I just hate that. I went out & mowed earlier this morning to try to get some of it done, but it got hot before I finished completely, so I guess maybe I'll finish another day when it's not an oven out there. At least I got the main areas done. I've got to go out after we have lunch & do some watering birds, the poor things & spray down the rabbits. I lost one of my Mini Rex bucks a couple days ago & it wasn't even this hot. I just hated that I lost one of my favorite bucks, he was such a good boy. RIP Snickers.

Thank you! I've currently got both bumblefoot-infected birds in a cage here in the house b/c of the heat. The goose is a chinese goose and is a noisy bird. They are in the same room that my desk is in... Hope they don't drive me batty...

I've also currently got a bleeding duck on my lap. She tore a toenail off clear to the skin. I'm holding some flour on her foot in an attempt to get it to stop bleeding. I sure wish I could manage to keep my animals healthy & injury-free. This definitely is NOT my day! I am very glad that this bird's limping was not caused by bumblefoot. I don't think I can handle any more cases of that right now.

 

[Trish44]

lizzy, I can empathize with you on the goose in the house. I have had a brooder in my sunroom in the house every since February when I had to bring chicks in from the garage where the rest of my brooders are because it was too cold. I only had chicks in the garage for a short time & then it got too hot to have them in there, so I have had chicks pretty constantly all summer in the house. We have learned to live with them in here. For the most part they don't bother us other than I did have to put a curtain up over the window in our bedroom upstairs to filter the light at night. We have a very unusual house in that we have windows that look out from the upstairs onto the first floor. I don't know if they wanted more light or a more open feel or what, but the first floor is open all the way to the 2nd floor celiling on the front part, like 20 feet up. To me it's just wasted space that could have been used for another room over the diningroom or at least a loft room, but it is what it is. These people who built this house were strange indeed, the neighbors who knew them have told me so & I know that to be true also from the strange things they did building this house. There are some things that are nice about it & some that aren't so nice.

I just went out & gave my rabbits a shower to cool them down. They're not happy about getting sprayed, but I'm sure it makes them feel better for awhile anyway when it's this hot. I also sprayed down the area under the bush where the chickens hang out. Even the goats are hiding out in the shade today & they're usually out & about even in the heat, but not today. I just found a duck standing in the bird bath. It's not that they don't have a pool to stand in, silly birds.

 

[lizzyGSR]

ok, so my DH went into town and got some amoxicillin capsules from the vet. When he got home, we performed bumblefoot surgery on my goose. It bled a LOT more than when we did so for my duck. Just about made this pregnant lady woozy. My DH is usually the one who has that problem, and he did really well... He even did the cutting! We got her wrapped back up, and then I went to give her the antibiotic. It sounded easy to force feed the antibiotic to the birds. The duck was easy peasy compared to my goose. He fought me the whole time! I'm not sure how my DH is going to manage to give it by himself while I'm away. I might have to call the vet's emergency number tomorrow morning to find out. They won't be open again 'till Tuesday, most likely.

Is amoxicillin one that can be added to the water? I could try to give them a small amount of water each with the med in it and then give them fresh water when that gets low. Is that a bad idea? Giving a shot of Baytril is looking to be very nice right now... Too bad I'm stuck with the amoxicillin. Not that my DH would be able to hold the bird AND give it a shot simultaneously either....

Suggestions?

 

[chicken danz]

Take the pill and just force the beak open from the corners of his mouth and shove the pill down the throat with one finger. You can push it back far enough they have to swallow it.
To control a goose the best thing is to sit on the floor. Put his body under your leg that lets your hands free to control whatever you are doing. Lay him on his back or his side for the easiest control.
Lizzy I was gone all day and I know you needed a coach. I am sorry I wasn't around to sound off of. Tell your DH I am really proud of him for doing the goose surgery. I'd never get my DH to do something like that. He would hold the bird and bring me something to cut with but he wouldn't do the cutting.
I think if you added the amoxicillin to the water it would taste so bad the goose wouldn't drink it. Giving shots sure works better.
I have a rooster that had a bad cold. I've been giving him penicillin G shots. They must be working. Tonight when I opened the gate on the kennel I am keeping him in to give him some cucumber he tried to jump and flog me. This is a rooster I could carry around without a fight a few days ago. I guess he is feeling better.
I've had birds in the house for at least the last 2 years or more. Every time I think I finally have them moved out I hatch some more or have one that needs medical attention. I really wish I had a place I could control the climate and keep all these that need a little more attention someplace besides in the house. I don't think I'll ever be free of poultry dust.
I was gone all afternoon and had to finish taking care of the birds late.Even at 8:00 PM I was still sweating out there. I am so ready for cooler weather.

 

[lizzyGSR]

Take the pill and just force the beak open from the corners of his mouth and shove the pill down the throat with one finger. You can push it back far enough they have to swallow it.
To control a goose the best thing is to sit on the floor. Put his body under your leg that lets your hands free to control whatever you are doing. Lay him on his back or his side for the easiest control.
Lizzy I was gone all day and I know you needed a coach. I am sorry I wasn't around to sound off of. Tell your DH I am really proud of him for doing the goose surgery. I'd never get my DH to do something like that. He would hold the bird and bring me something to cut with but he wouldn't do the cutting.
I think if you added the amoxicillin to the water it would taste so bad the goose wouldn't drink it. Giving shots sure works better.
I have a rooster that had a bad cold. I've been giving him penicillin G shots. They must be working. Tonight when I opened the gate on the kennel I am keeping him in to give him some cucumber he tried to jump and flog me. This is a rooster I could carry around without a fight a few days ago. I guess he is feeling better.
I've had birds in the house for at least the last 2 years or more. Every time I think I finally have them moved out I hatch some more or have one that needs medical attention. I really wish I had a place I could control the climate and keep all these that need a little more attention someplace besides in the house. I don't think I'll ever be free of poultry dust.
I was gone all afternoon and had to finish taking care of the birds late.Even at 8:00 PM I was still sweating out there. I am so ready for cooler weather.

I may have to try force-feeding the pill to my gander. That might work better than trying to force-feed the medicated water. I made a bit of a mess with it this evening. Either way, I've GOT to find something that my DH is willing to do. He dislikes this particular bird anyway (NOISY bird, and he doesn't like the noise), and so that doesn't help my case much. All I can say is that it's a good thing he loves me because otherwise I'd never talk him into doing half the stuff I do.

Giving shots sounds like a good idea to me... However, that is still VERY difficult to do without help. My trip sure has managed to be at a bad time. I'm looking forward to it, but I really hate to leave when I feel like things are falling apart around here. This heat sure hasn't helped much. In addition to the two birds with bumblefoot, I've got a dog with sores caused by flies so I'm trying to find a way to get rid of the flies that won't affect the birds (he goes for swims in their pool, which they also drink out of), and a horse with what originally looked like a bit of an eye infection, though he is looking better. plus, I've got 3 fish that I really need to try to give away/sell because they are the only fish in a 55 gallon tank, and I am trying really hard to cut down on my responsibilities before Baby comes... So far, no local interest on the fish. I've never shipped fish before and really don't want to try... GRRR!