Gurgling hen--getting worse. Help!

[Seaecho]

My Serama hen started gurgling slightly when excited a few months ago. Otherwise she acted fine. When she began gurgling more often, I gave her a full, five day course of oral Tyan 50. She seemed better, but now, a few weeks later, she is gurgling more than ever. I can't tell if she's just broody, or also feeling sick, as she stays in the coop most of the time except when I make her come out. She is eating, although not as much as usual. I have Tetracycline powder for fish that is 500mg per packet. Can I give her this? I have no vets around here that know about chickens. What would be the dosage? I really want to save this very sweet hen!

 

[micstrachan]

I think you need to determine whether it is respiratory for sure. Can you check that her crop is empty in the morning?

 

[Seaecho]

Yes, I have done that, and it is empty in the morning. I just need to know how much powder (500 mg) of the tetracycline in applesauce to give orally. The only drug I have access to is tetracycline.

 

[Seaecho]

Am I right in that I would give a 1 pound bird approximately 25mg. of tetracycline per day?

 

[micstrachan]

@casportpony is a dosing guru. She will want to know the weight of your bird, so have that info ready in case she (or somebody else with info) responds.

 

[micstrachan]

Sorry, we were writing at the same time. Unfortunately, I don’t have dosing info handy. @Eggcessive @dawg53 @coach723 might, too.

 

[coach723]

This post by @casportpony list meds and doses, scroll down for tetracycline dose:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ed-in-poultry-no-prescription-needed.1073562/

 

[Eggcessive]

Tylan can be better to use than the tetracycline, and since it helped before, I would use it again. If using Tylan 50 injectable, give it orally without the needle 0.2 ml per pound 3 times a day. Tetracycline is to be mixed into the water for 7 days. What brand are you using—can you post a picture of it?

Respiratory diseases can be complicated by secondary infections, and they also can come back again and again during periods of stress.

 

[Seaecho]

This hen weighs just under a pound. After reading for a couple of hours online last night, I concluded that 25mg per day for 15 days should work. However, for the first 3 days I am giving her 50mg per day because she is gurgling so much. That was recommended. I hope it's not too much!

Eggcessive, I wasn't real clear on the Tylan 50. She did seem to improve, but the gurgling never completely went away. So I don't think it knocked it out the first time. And from what I read, you can only use it for 5 days, which I did. Thank you for the link, Coach! I'll read it as soon as I'm done with this message.

I gave the Tetracycline orally by mixing it with applesauce and putting it into a syringe. I got it down her. I was planning to take her to a vet today. BUT then I remembered about Newcastle Disease being in San. Bernardino and LA counties, which I'm only an hour or so away from, and I could just see them telling me they didn't know what she had, but they had to take her away from me for euthanasia and a necropsy to rule that out. Well, no way is that going to happen. This is like living a nightmare. My precious pet is sick and I can't even take her to a vet!

Good news is, she ate out of my hand this morning. Lentil sprouts, scrambled eggs, yogurt and a bit of scratch mixed together. A bit of watermelon and cantaloupe too. I never knew a chicken that size could eat so much when sick! I know they are good at hiding their illnesses though, being prey animals. She's not coming out of the coop, and is staying in the same exact place with a bowl of water right next to her.

This is kind of funny and kind of not, but my Silkie had to lay an egg this morning, and the Serama was in the coop. The Silkie was singing the egg sound loud and clear and pacing. Finally, in desperation, she went into the coop and laid almost right on top of the Serama and laid her egg within 3 minutes! (They always lay their eggs side by side). Talk about cutting it close! I took the egg out and the Silkie left the coop, leaving the uncomplaining Serama at peace once again.

 

[Seaecho]

Forgot to add the pic! All it says on the back is that each packet contains 500mg.