Hen suddenly very sick. Chalky white/yellow discharge, bad smelling vent. Other details provided, please help

[coach723]

this sounded good until I tried to get ceph, can't be purchased without a prescription, and have to take chicken to vet to get prescription, this making it unaffordable!

You can get it without a prescription as a fish medication, online. As Fish Flex or Aqua Ceph.
That is what many of us use.

 

[casportpony]

this sounded good until I tried to get ceph, can't be purchased without a prescription, and have to take chicken to vet to get prescription, this making it unaffordable!

One can get almost any antibiotic without a prescription. If cephelexin is what you want, here it is:
https://www.heartlandvetsupply.com/...term=4583108087997911&utm_content=Ad group #1

 

[TropicalChickies]

this sounded good until I tried to get ceph, can't be purchased without a prescription, and have to take chicken to vet to get prescription, this making it unaffordable!

I live in South America. It's easier to buy antibiotics here. I know it's tougher for people in the US.

The best advice I can give regarding emergency treatment for chickens is to keep any broad spectrum antibiotic you can get on hand. If you can't afford a vet and are willing to do the right research on the right dosage and when antibiotics are appropriate, then IMO it's better to have one on hand for an emergency than not have it. But seriously, if you are going to administer an antibiotic to an animal, be reasonably certain that the animal does have a bacterial infection and be as precise as possible with the dose.

It doesn't matter if they are antibiotics for humans. The pills will be big doses though, like 250 500mg -- and would need to be divided for a chicken. I use human grade antibiotics here, but I buy the formulas intended for children -- they are much closer to the right dose for a chicken.

Here's a link with good info on the names of different types of antibiotics. Antibiotics for chickens are all based on these same groups.

You can order online from websites in different countries like Columbia or India. Best luck.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/antibiotics/

 

[TropicalChickies]

Rusty update.

She's had 2.5 days of treatment for infection plus one dose early this morning. That's nine 40mg doses of cephalaxine administered every 6hrs plus one dose of 60mg I gave her the first night to start. Plus a daily calcium.

She continues to improve. Biggest signs of improvement are:

Her eyes are much more open and clear. Facial swelling is still a bit present, but going down. Her general demeanor is more alert and engaged.

Tail is up. Comb, wattles and face are a normal red, not the bright hectic color she was two days ago.

Her poop is an encouraging sign. No yellow or white chalk. Much more solid, with separate urates. Not quite a "cap" but not watery, so her kidneys are working. Normal cecal poop too. Color is dark greenish, but I figure her liver is working to process and flush the antibiotic.

Continuing to watch with concern:

Crop is slow, but not sour. Was not empty at 5am this morning. Does not feel "gushy" or liquidy, she's just passing food more slowly.

Yesterday morning she ate a scrambled egg sprinkled with probiotic powder (no problem).

In the afternoon, I gave her a small portion damp feed mash with coconut oil. She wasn't as excited about it after the egg, but she ate it.

About halfway through the bowl, she started to choke, but she cleared it with a neck/stretch and shake of the head.

I removed the food and transferred it to a tray and spread it out so she wouldn't scarf it and have to eat more slowly. That helped.

She clears her throat and shakes herself throughout the day. Not constantly, but she's definitely got something in there. I'm wondering if it's just a mucous response from the infection.

So that's her status as of now. She seems all right in her confined pen, and she gets several visitors throughout the day. Rooster Lucio (her boyfriend) comes and shuffles and treats outside the pen so at least she still feels wanted, and then the other hens get curious and check it out. But then then go off so they aren't bothering her all day.

I'm wondering -- as long as she continues to improve, when I can let her out. My main concern is the roosters. If she's shedding some bacteria from her reproductive system though her back end, won't they spread it if they mate with her and then mate the other hens?

The other problem is that "out" here means really out. This is totally free range farm, no run, no fences, and if she wanders off to find her own place to be alone, it could be anywhere. It's happened -- I found an injured hen in the forest once after 3 hours of searching. Given that Rusty needs to be medicated every 6 hours, I feel like keeping her confined at least for the course of her antibiotic treatment is necessary. Anyway, she's not exactly clawing at her pen trying to escape, and it is is mobile, so I can move her to the dustbath or into the shade or sun, put her on the grass etc. I just don't want her to get depression.

Anyway... Hoping she continues to get better so she can rejoin her flock and especially her sweetheart Lucio.

Lucio s Rusty. I hope they can be together again soon.

 

[TwoCrows]

Rusty update.

She's had 2.5 days of treatment for infection plus one dose early this morning. That's nine 40mg doses of cephalaxine administered every 6hrs plus one dose of 60mg I gave her the first night to start. Plus a daily calcium.

She continues to improve. Biggest signs of improvement are:

Her eyes are much more open and clear. Facial swelling is still a bit present, but going down. Her general demeanor is more alert and engaged.

Tail is up. Comb, wattles and face are a normal red, not the bright hectic color she was two days ago.View attachment 3693060
Her poop is an encouraging sign. No yellow or white chalk. Much more solid, with separate urates. Not quite a "cap" but not watery, so her kidneys are working. Normal cecal poop too. Color is dark greenish, but I figure her liver is working to process and flush the antibiotic.

View attachment 3693061

Continuing to watch with concern:

Crop is slow, but not sour. Was not empty at 5am this morning. Does not feel "gushy" or liquidy, she's just passing food more slowly.

Yesterday morning she ate a scrambled egg sprinkled with probiotic powder (no problem).

In the afternoon, I gave her a small portion damp feed mash with coconut oil. She wasn't as excited about it after the egg, but she ate it.

About halfway through the bowl, she started to choke, but she cleared it with a neck/stretch and shake of the head.

I removed the food and transferred it to a tray and spread it out so she wouldn't scarf it and have to eat more slowly. That helped.

She clears her throat and shakes herself throughout the day. Not constantly, but she's definitely got something in there. I'm wondering if it's just a mucous response from the infection.

So that's her status as of now. She seems all right in her confined pen, and she gets several visitors throughout the day. Rooster Lucio (her boyfriend) comes and shuffles and treats outside the pen so at least she still feels wanted, and then the other hens get curious and check it out. But then then go off so they aren't bothering her all day.

I'm wondering -- as long as she continues to improve, when I can let her out. My main concern is the roosters. If she's shedding some bacteria from her reproductive system though her back end, won't they spread it if they mate with her and then mate the other hens?

The other problem is that "out" here means really out. This is totally free range farm, no run, no fences, and if she wanders off to find her own place to be alone, it could be anywhere. It's happened -- I found an injured hen in the forest once after 3 hours of searching. Given that Rusty needs to be medicated every 6 hours, I feel like keeping her confined at least for the course of her antibiotic treatment is necessary. Anyway, she's not exactly clawing at her pen trying to escape, and it is is mobile, so I can move her to the dustbath or into the shade or sun, put her on the grass etc. I just don't want her to get depression.

Anyway... Hoping she continues to get better so she can rejoin her flock and especially her sweetheart Lucio.

View attachment 3693069

She looks a lot better, ❤ glad to hear she is moving in the right direction!

 

[TropicalChickies]

She looks a lot better, ❤ glad to hear she is moving in the right direction!

Yep, considering she was flopping with closed eyes and white gunk coming out of her 3 days ago, this is a big improvement.

What do you think about when I put her back with her flock? Is she contagious via contact do you think?

 

[TropicalChickies]

Hi folks,

Update on Rusty.

As of this morning, she's had 5 full days of cephalaxine given every 6 hours, without fail. That's 20 doses. Given her response, I'm thinking that could be enough. Some sources online regarding ceph doses for chickens say 7 days, but I found others that say only 5 days.
https://justagric.com/cephalexin-powder-for-poultry/

It looks like the infection has been successfully knocked down.
-There's none of the really bad acrid smell
-her poop is fairly solid (given she's been medicated so much) with distinct urates, no chalk or gunk on her vent
-no fever
-eyes clear and open

BUT. Her crop has not been empty in the morning for the past four days.

Her head/beak is getting a sweetish smell that tells me the stuff in there is beginning to ferment.

I have only fed her 2 small meals per day (either scrambled egg or damp mash with a little oil and probiotic). She drinks water on her own. She poops solids (a bit mushy, but solid enough) several times a day, but the crop just does not empty.

I think she's out of the woods re the infection and I need to focus on helping her system back into balance with good bacteria so her crop can function properly.

This is just my instinct. I've had a sad experience with a hen with chronic sour crop (that hen likely had ovarian tumors). Rusty has no history of crop problems, but I don't want to let this become one by prolonging the antibiotics any more than necessary.

I just got about 20ml of warm water with Epsom salt into her. I'm waiting to see if it helps to flush her out. Then I can feed her and see if the crop starts to empty on its own tomorrow. If not, I'll start her on ACS in her water.

I'd welcome any feedback on this plan, thank you. @TwoCrows @azygous @coach723 @Wyorp Rock

 

[Perris]

for as successful a treatment of the crop issue as you appear to have had with the infection.

 

[azygous]

Splendid report! It's great to hear Rusty has rallied on the Ceph. Crop yeast is often a side effect of antibiotics, so we should be expecting it. Your were and are on top of it. The Epsom salts may be enough to do the trick as you've caught it early. Keep up with a probiotic dose each day, as well. A healthy chicken will respond to this.

You have good instincts!

 

[TropicalChickies]

Splendid report! It's great to hear Rusty has rallied on the Ceph. Crop yeast is often a side effect of antibiotics, so we should be expecting it. Your were and are on top of it. The Epsom salts may be enough to do the trick as you've caught it early. Keep up with a probiotic dose each day, as well. A healthy chicken will respond to this.

You have good instincts!

Thank you for the response. I'll keep up the probiotics and see how she does.

Do you think I can let her join the flock? I don't think she's contagious, her vent is totally clear of any gunk or discharge. She's starting to get frustrated being contained. She's in a mobile pen outdoors and I move her around so she can dustbath and peck at grit, but she's antsy to get out.

I don't want the roosters stressing her out. I've got two broodies and a mum in the flock right now, so there's a shortage of hens and I know the second I let her out, they will be on her. I let her out briefly yesterday afternoon, and the junior roo chased her right over to the senior roo, who mated her. Both males are young, 7 mos and 1 year, neither are rough but they aren't exactly at the "no means no" level of maturity either.

I guess it's either roosters or containment that could stress her and I have to figure out a balance. Maybe just let her free in the afternoons when the roos are less, uh, amorous...