Help I have a butt pecker

[Bawkbok]

I feel like I want to give up. I work so hard to research and give them the best and I keep having something happen with them.

I'm happy to hear she laid an egg.

This is a normal feeling. Many here have experienced a similar experience. Our first year with chickens was fraught with one disaster after another; one death after another and another - 10 birds in the first year - myriad of issues and illnesses including Marek's. I was going to quit because I felt like a failure for the birds and I felt I was in a constant state of grief. Just bad beginners luck I guess. Indoctrination I told myself. Keep pushing. You have what it takes. Just work through the issues one at a time and stay with it. Each incident / illness is an opportunity for you to learn; that was my approach. Better days are ahead for you and your flock. You have a strong support system here with BYC.

 

[Hannah2911]

I'm happy to hear she laid an egg.

This is a normal feeling. Many here have experienced a similar experience. Our first year with chickens was fraught with one disaster after another; one death after another and another - 10 birds in the first year - myriad of issues and illnesses including Marek's. I was going to quit because I felt like a failure for the birds and I felt I was in a constant state of grief. Just bad beginners luck I guess. Indoctrination I told myself. Keep pushing. You have what it takes. Just work through the issues one at a time and stay with it. Each incident / illness is an opportunity for you to learn; that was my approach. Better days are ahead for you and your flock. You have a strong support system here with BYC.

Thank you and everyone so much. Crying as I type. Having yall to support and help means so much! One day when I have learned as much as yall I hope to be able to help others also!

One quick question if anyone here has done this. I asked earlier about oral dosing Tiaguard but ended up putting it in water. I added apple juice for taste. I don’t know how much they are drinking. I’m going to try and watch the camera for that today while at work. The ones eye is better. Only one sounds congested. Would it be good to give her oral Tiaguard? I saw the equation said .09ml per pound. This one is 4.5 lbs. but the part I’m confused about is that straight out of the bottle or do I still mix the Tiaguard with water and then give her the .09 per lb?

 

[coach723]

If your Tiaguard is labeled to be mixed in water, then use that mixture as instructions say, and give the medicated water mixture to her several times a day orally if she isn't drinking on her own, until she starts drinking on her own. I will attach a link to an article that explains how to safely administer medications. For more accurate advice please post a picture of the medication you are giving and the instruction label so we can see it clearly. Tiaguard is often used to treat mycoplasma gallisepticum symptoms. That particular illness is chronic and the birds are carriers, so symptoms can recur periodically, usually during times of stress (which can be just about anything for a chicken). So if the medication helps with symptoms (it won't be a cure), then you may need to retreat periodically. MG is also very contagious, so any birds you bring in will be exposed to it. And no birds should leave your property (don't give away or sell them, or sell eggs to hatch). It can also be spread on clothing, equipment and shoes. Birds can be tested for it, to confirm or rule it out. MG does not affect humans.
For your hen that was having trouble laying, putting where you are located generally in the world in your profile, can help with answering some issues. How old is this hen? Did she molt this fall/winter? If a hen stops laying for a period, due to age, season (shorter daylight hours), or molt, then they can have glitches when they start up laying again. Just like with brand new layers, sometimes it can take a bit of time for their bodies to get back in the swing of it. Hopefully it will resolve, but definitely keep an eye on her. If you do have MG in your flock, that can also affect laying and egg quality.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...dications-to-all-poultry-and-waterfowl.73335/