Eye problem on Ameraucana hen (respiratory issue actually)

[Eggcessive]

Look at feed stores in the cattle meds for Tylan 50 or Tylan 200, and get syringes with 18 or 20 gauge needles to withdraw the medicien. Give it orally after removing the needle. They have been reportedly hard to find this year. How much does your hen weigh? Tylan 50 dosage is 1.25 ml or 1 1/4 ml for a 5 pound hen 3 times a day for 5 days. Tylan 200 dosage is 0.25 ml or 1/4 ml for a 5 pound hen 3 times a day.

Go to Walmart pharmacy and ask for a couple of 1 ml syringes with needles. They also have free 1 ml syringes without needles for giving babies small amounts of medicine. I just got 2 of those a couple of weeks ago. They keep them behind the counter, altough they have larger 5 ml ones out in the aisles.

 

[slordaz]

I get 1 ml on up from the farm stores here, not sure your area, but they are also in the cattle area for some reason, like a 1 ml is gonna be used on a cow lol

 

[Eggcessive]

I have only seen 3 ml and larger syringes at my feed stores locally. The OP could use the large syringe and squirt it into a 1 ml syringe. The free 1 ml ones at Walmart pharmacy was a surprise. They do not have needles and are for giving babies small doses.

 

[TexasWineGuy]

Update:

I have a bottle of Oxytetracycline in my hands. The question now is how to administer?

This site says injection (IM or SC) or - in drinking water. Can I give orally with a small syringe? Since I want to treat all 4 hens, leaning towards the drinking water, but - for how long do I treat?

I also have some VetRx which is a natural herbal treatment for such things.

Also, thus far I have not been able to find any Tylan around here, but my research shows the Oxytetracycline to be a better option.

Thoughts on the administering this antibiotic?

TWG

 

[coach723]

Can you post a picture of the medication you have, then someone can help you with correct dosing?

 

[TexasWineGuy]

Can you post a picture of the medication you have, then someone can help you with correct dosing?

 

[TexasWineGuy]

Based on input from a couple other poultry sites I'm going with 1/2cc injections (breast) daily for at least 5 days. Injection #1 is done. For today, Day 1, I also dosed 1/2cc orally.

I am also going to pay to get a swab culture done so I can tell definitively what this is, and isn't. If it is Mycoplasma (CRD) then we have some choices to make as to whether we need to cull her, or keep her and risk other episodes.

Not a good position to be in. My 10-year old daughter is upset that her "head" hen is sick.

TWG

 

[TexasWineGuy]

Update 10-3-19:

Culture swab done on Monday night. Will need to wait 10-14 days to hear back from Texas A&M labs.

The hen is showing improvement this AM. The bubbles, or foaming, in the corner of the eye has stopped, and the eyelids have reduced in their minor swelling.

Having said that, the real battle is not within this one hen. The real battle is going to be within that petri-dish in the lab.

Daughter knows what needs to happen if the test confirms CRD - every hen must be culled.

We will continue with the injections for another 4 or 5 days.

More later....

TWG

 

[Eggcessive]

MG is very common in backyard flocks. I would not cull all my birds for a positive MG test result. It can be controlled by closing your flock to new birds, or to birds leaving your flock. Wild migrating birds can spread the disease. Eggs for eating are fine to be sold, but not for hatching. I also wonder if starting the antibiotic before the culture was taken would skew the results.

 

[TexasWineGuy]

MG is very common in backyard flocks. I would not cull all my birds for a positive MG test result. It can be controlled by closing your flock to new birds, or to birds leaving your flock. That is something to consider - never being able to add to the flock? Not a good position. Others I have spoken with about this also suggest starting over, including my Vet. I do not want to discount your input to this topic, but thus far you are the only person that has NOT said to "start over". I have read papers on CRD recently - they never get over it. "The hens will become symptomatic any time they are stressed, or even mildly sick from another cause." Also stated, "at some point the disease will surface and weaken the bird to the extent even antibiotics will no longer save it."

Wild migrating birds can spread the disease. Eggs for eating are fine to be sold, but not for hatching. I also wonder if starting the antibiotic before the culture was taken would skew the results. My Vet says the swab test will still be good. "Plenty of bacteria culture in that foamy eye."

The first 3 hens we got were from my brother, who raised about a dozen pullets from days-old chicks. His hens are still fine. We however, bought one addition hen from a nearby source about 6 weeks ago. I guess this could be the source of the sickness, then again there is no way to scientifically prove that.

TWG