HELP WITH MEDS PLEASE!

[KathyR]

My one hen has had what I guess is an upper respiratory infection. She was treated with Tylan powder , and then 8 days with a baytril compound - tubed in orally. It has gotten worse. She has pus in her ears, puffy eye and now gets short if breath and wheezy with exertion. I just discovered yesterday a second one with a puffy eye. I called feed store and they recommended tetracycline. I am thinking of taking the one in for a culture. Should I try the tetracycline first?

Also, I have two 9wk old chicks in a cage in that coop. Should I treat them even though they have no symptoms? They have been on a medicated feed and get vitamins every other day in water.

 

[KathyR]

Anybody?

 

[Leslieb118]

It may be too late for this, but first of all I'd get the sick ones away from the others. If that means moving the cage of young ones out of the coop and into the garage if that's easier, then do that. Otherwise you need to get the sick chickens away from the rest. Respiratory infections are a bad thing to have in your flock and are highly contagious. If the symptoms of the sick ones are that bad, you may want to euthanize them. They will remain carriers even if you successfully treat the symptoms. If you take one in for a culture then the vet may be able to recommend an appropriate antibiotic for them. What has been suggested to me is Tylan 50 injectible. It works faster when given as an injection versus given orally.

 

[KathyR]

I am not sure I would be able to do the shots.

 

[KathyR]

I have thought about euthanasia, but the one who originally came down with it is Peaches, my favorite hen. I was hoping to get her well again.

 

[Leslieb118]

You can try searching the forum for threads relating to giving injections. They're very helpful. I know how it is to be nervous about something like that. I haven't injected a bird in 25 years, and then it was a Cockatiel that had gout. I recently had a sick roo that at the time I thought had an illness that needed antibiotics. I gave him Tylan orally because he had lost so much weight that there just wasn't anywhere on his breast that I could inject. Turns out that he died of Mareks, and antibiotics don't help that. He was my favorite too. It really stinks that it's always the favorite that gets sick.

If meds aren't working for your girl, my suggestion would be to euthanize her. Chickens can hide symptoms for a long time and once they start to show something, it can be very hard to get them back on the road to recovery. These respiratory infections can infect your entire flock. Even if you've treated and the symptoms go away, they'll remain carriers, and even the slightest stress in a chicken can make those viruses rear their ugly heads.

I'm sorry you're going through this. I know its not easy especially when it's a chicken you're particularly attached to.

 

[KathyR]

Thanks for your support. I have an appointment to get a culture done this afternoon. I have had one problem after the other this year.

 

[Hillywu]

I just wanted to say that I just finished giving two of my hens an injection. It was honestly very easy. I found a video on-line of a guy demonstrating how to do it. So simple. They didn't squawk or anything. Now I will say that I have no problems with needles or anything like that, so that sure helped. I hope you find out what it is and are able to treat your hens. Good luck! (By the way, it was Tylan 50 that I used. My hens were not too severe, just discharge and the one had a little wheezing. These were brand new hens to us though, so I went ahead and separated, watched for a while and then treated. All is now well.)

 

[Hillywu]

Here's the link http://blog.remote-backup.com/rob-demonstrates-how-to-give-a-chicken-an-injection/

 

[KathyR]

Thanks. Other than chasing the chicken around the house he made it look easy. I did treat for worms and coccidia this spring. Also treated for lice. Sure glad I don't have more chickens than I do.