egg yolk peritonitis? My buff Orpington is sick

[micstrachan]

When I have a hen droopy and not eating, obviously not well but not showing definite symptoms to point to a diagnosis, I go ahead and start a round of a broad spectrum antibiotic which I keep on hand. I get mine here. https://www.kvsupply.com/Search.aspx?query=Fish Mox 250Mg 60Ct

I use the penicillin and amoxicillin alternately, but give just the one for the full ten day treatment, 250mg once a day or divide it in half and give morning and night. It's up to you.

I checked at Tractor Supply last week to see what they had, and they carry injectable penicillin.

It's so hard to diagnose a chicken and there are no shortage of avian disorders and diseases to choose from. As often as not, an antibiotic will cure the patient, but you may never know with certainty what was wrong.

I've had several bouts of bacterial infections I've traced back to a soggy, stagnant compost pile where the antibiotic effected a definitive cure. EYP isn't always what makes a hen sick.

Great info here. What symptoms did your chickens have who got sick from the soggy compost pile?

 

[azygous]

It came on suddenly. A normally, bossy, opinionated hen would stand stationary, tail held flat and low, nodding off, not eating, mute.

The winter had been very wet. It had warmed up and the chickens were spending a lot of time on the compost pile. This one was a Cream Legbar, and she would obsess with digging as deep as she could in one spot. The compost had gone anaerobic. The bugs were infected with bacteria from the fetid compost, I later learned.

Next time it happened, I recognized the symptoms.

 

[azygous]

The antibiotics I use are in pill form. I pull down on the wattles and that normally forces the beak open, and I just pop the pill onto the tongue and the hen swallows. Like some other animals, they will spit it out unless you get it back onto the tongue, so be prepared.

You probably won't be able to find this form of antibiotic in the farm store. They sell mostly the vials of liquid form to be used with a syringe needle.

Try to find an aquarium shop that sells tropical fish. They'll have it. It's called Fish Mox. This is why I order my supply online to have when and if I need it. You could also try a vet and see if they' ll sell you some. Online is the cheapest way to go. You might also ask around of your friends if anyone has any leftover antibiotics in their medicine cabinet. People know I have chickens, and I occasionally get some in that fashion. I have a hen with bumblefoot I'm treating right now with a potent one I got from a friend.

 

[Madison Lorenzen]

Update: she still not moving much. Just squatting on the ground. Still not eating. She is voluntarily drinking water now which is a good sign I think. Our local fish store does have fish mox in tablet form. He told me they usually dissolve it in water, but do I just put it in the back of her throat?

 

[Madison Lorenzen]

or I mean, back on her tongue?

 

[azygous]

Yes, give her the pill whole. No need to dissolve it. In fact it's better whole so she gets the entire dose. Is it 250mg? That's the daily dose for chickens.

 

[Madison Lorenzen]

Is this the right stuff? Those pills are big. I'm nervous about trying to give it to her without making her choke.

 

[Machineryqueen]

First try presenting it like a treat in the palm of your hand. Mine ate it greedily. It even amazed the Vet. I made sure to place it vertical to the beak.

 

[Madison Lorenzen]

I was able to get the pill down. I also felt her abdomen which does feel like a water balloon, and the skin is very pink. I got another picture of her stance, and 2 pictures of her poop. One has bright green in it, and the other looked like it had blood. Look at the pictures and let me know what you think please.

 

[micstrachan]

So the Fish Mox is the antibiotic? Was that her first dose? Will take a bit to kick in. Have you offeted a high protein treat to entice her to eat?