healthy hen died today for no good reason- advice wanted!

[Marcy]

I'm going to call and give them an earful. It even says so on the webpage, and I quote: "OK to eat eggs during treatment with these antibiotics"

i.e. they recommend this to people who want to use antibiotics on birds who are already laying.

Thanks so much for the advice- it's good to know I should be looking for another solution instead of waiting for something useless to arrive in the mail!

 

[speckledhen]

Unless there is some VetRx product I've never seen before, it's just aromatic oils, etc. Check out this label information, Marcy.
http://www.jefferslivestock.com/ssc/assets/label_info/16803.htm

The ingredients are:

Ingredients

Made with 3.3% (v-v) Alcohol U.S.P. This proven mixture contains Canada Balsam, Camphor, Oil Origanum, Oil Rosemary, blended in a corn oil base.​

 

[beakkeeper]

I can't believe they would deceive the public like that! SO sorry about your bird.

 

[speckledhen]

I just went to the McMurray page on Health care items. Darned if VetRx isn't listed as an antibiotic!!! WRONG! They need to remove that from that page, pronto.

 

[Marcy]

and it's not like it's even a typo- I called to make sure. What a waste of seventeen bucks... and if I didn't have you guys to ask I wouldn't even realize until it arrived and I could check the label that there was something not right.

 

[speckledhen]

And you can find it in most feedstores for about $7 or so. Sorry, Marcy!

 

[Feathers Acres]

Hmm, worms? maybe?

I wouldnt be worried about the other birds it sounds like the bird was
the only one affected


I dont think anyone here could tell you for shure, so id leave it up to necropsy

 

[Marcy]

well, it looks like necropsy is out of the question now, unfortunately... I did some calling around this afternoon, and I actually had to explain the term "necropsy" to the poultry department at the state veterinarian's office, and when they understood, they said they don't do that, nor can they recommend anyone who does. The only vet I can find who will do it charges $150, which isn't really in my budget right now, plus they told me up front that it's rarely conclusive. so.

 

[Ellie_NY_chick]

Marcy, I'm sorry for your loss. I just went through a similar situation, and we're still puzzled as to why we lost our bird, who was literally fine one minute and dead the next.

If it's any consolation, I've had to just deal with the fact that sometimes they just die, you accept it and move on. Like you, I haven't seen any signs of illness. It's been a couple of weeks and everyone else is just fine.

You might consider giving a little plain yogurt as a probiotic. Make sure it's real yogurt and not the pudding-desserty type. Be careful not to over do it because it will cause diarrhea. The birds just love it.

I have VetRx. Sorry you were ripped off on the price. Your local Agway is usually a good resource for it for about $7. It does state on the box that it's for the prevention of disease and colds, but I'm at a loss on how it would be. Like speckled hen said, it's basically like Vicks for chickens, with camphor, balsam and rosemary in a corn oil base. I guess the FDA only covers medicinal claims for people, not poultry. Of couse I think a good stiff snifter full of sherry will cure a cold, but the FDA doesn't support that claim either.

I'm flummoxed as to how a state vet in GA wouldn't know about a necropsy on a bird. How do they test for avian flu, West Nile virus, and other highly contagious avian diseases? As Bugs Bunny would say, What a bunch of maroons..."

I hope the rest of your birds are okay.