Help! Found a chicken looking for owner but is sick! No vet in area!

[foxypoproxy]

Hi,
I live in CT and ive had chickens before and have one now but the other day we recently found a white and black crested polish in the road.
It almost got hit by cars so we brought it home. Its very clean and it seems to be a young one because it peeps like a chick.
We are taking care of it, put up posters but if no body claims it we were thinking of keeping it.
It is very sweet but over the past few days i have realized it did some strange things such as opening its mouth alot (gaping), sneezing, shaking its head, stretching its neck alot, and it now just threw up liquid water.
Ive been trying to be as hygienic as possible while taking care of it, and ive kept it away from are other chicken.
I assume it needs a vet, i looked up and it looks like it could have gapeworm or some other respiratory issue but i can't find any vets near us that treat chickens!!!
I'm hoping there is a place i could maybe buy de-worming medicine? its hard enough trying to convince my parents to pay for a vet visit because they dont think chickens need them and they dont want to "waste their money"
I highly disagree but i can't even find a vet! I really need some help. Anyone know any vets in CT? How much is a visit and some medicine? can i get midicine for this chicken anywhere else?
please please help!

 

[chicmom]

I'm thinking with the head shaking, and sneezing, that it might have an upper respiratory thing going on. If you have the money, and you can buy some Tylan, which is great for such an illness, and will work very quickly. I buy the kind that is a powder, and you put it in their drinking water.....

Of course, I hate to say this, but people are right, you might just have a chicken that will be a disease carrier, and people often cull sick chickens for the good of the flock....

Good luck with whatever you decide to do! It's a very personal choice.

Sharon

PS: You can buy tylan at the farm store like TSC

 

[foxypoproxy]

I'm willing to spend the little money i have to save this chicken.
Its just a matter of finding the medicine, i wish we had more chicken places here...

 

[Hawkeye95]

do you have a farm store or CoOp near by? Most people do... they sell powder antibiotics for chickens in little bags. Pretty cheap. I bought a good sized bag of Duramycin-10 (which is a Tetracycline anitbiotic). It cost me $4.99 for the bag. It says on the bag "for swine, calves and poultry". You mix it in the drinking water -read the instructions. You could also ask ANY vet- you dont' need an avian vet, for an antibiotic called Baytril - it cost me about $10. I was using liquid Baytril at the rate of 0.1mm in a dropper down the beak/throat twice a day. (you'll need to open her mouth up) I used that on my sick turkey and she recovered well! There are a lot of options, but whatever you decide, you don't have a lot of time. You can't sit and think about it for a day, or your chicken will be dead. I'd go with the vet and ask them for the Baytril- that is your BEST option. I just used my dog vet, and he was very willing to help! Second best would be to go to Tractor Supply or an Atwoods or Orchelon.. some kind of farm store for the powder. But it won't work nearly as fast, but it's better than doing nothing at all.

 

[tammye]

worth a try since you have limited funds: I have read here and used Apple Cider Vinegar The natural kind, cloudy with the words "mother 'on the jar, costs about 5 dollars. take 1/2 cup ACV and 1/4 teaspoon cyanne pepper powder(also cheap) and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a glass cup and heat in the micro wave for one minute, let cool and add to a plactic or glass water jug with one gallon of water . The ACV and cyanne help to clear the lungs, boosts the immune system and can help with worms too. It is the natural way to help with SOME diseases. Give her some electrolyte solution in her water, different water than with the ACV mixture in it. Some antibiotics are not that expensive, I believe people use tylan for respiratory problems. Look up respiratory disease in the search for more info. good luck with her, she deserves a chance and she will reward you with her friendship

 

[foxypoproxy]

ok, i found a vet finally!
It wasn't looking to good so i called up my dogs vet and they refereed me to a chicken vet.
It sounds like it will be pretty affordable.
I'll be going asap! thanks for all the help!

 

[Hawkeye95]

Quote:
Hey, that's great!! I'm so glad! Let us know what the vet prescribes! If you need help with getting the medicine down her beak, I had troubles too and now have a good technique.

 

[foxypoproxy]

Hi guys,

apparently it has mites, a respiratory infection of some kind, and possible parasites.
So he gave her ivermectin, and baytril.
He said that she was extremely thin though and her being weak is probably contributing to it.
she only weighed 3 ounces (shes a black and white crested polish bantam) , but it makes me think the people who lost her weren't feeding her enough...

anyway, shes looking a bit better and i just have to give her baytril everyday.
He showed me a good way to get it in her beak.

I'm happy that i was able to afford her treatment XD!
Shes such a sweet chicken and i think shes pretty young because she still peeps like a chick...i cant tell what gender it is yet though.
she runs to my foot and sits next to me, its cute ive only had her for about 2 days.

Anyway, thanks everyone for the help!
Next i have to find a place near me that sells de-worming stuff so i can prevent this from happening in all my chickens.

 

[sourland]

Thanks to you for being responsible and taking care of her. I applaud you.

 

[Hawkeye95]

That's great! the wormer and Baytril should fix her right up! Even a very urban city should have a farm store of some kind! A pet shop, too, perhaps? But the farm store will be much cheaper for finding the Ivermectin. So glad that you took her to the vet. I LOVE polish! Even the roosters are very sweet!