Isolated hen won't eat.

[love me a henny]

My hen who is 2 1/2 needs to be isolated in order to provide antibiotic for a respiratory infection. The problem is she won't eat. It's been two days now and I'm concerned. The vet recommends I provide a 14 day course of treatment. It might be too that in my worry about her not eating I've been providing meal worms, pasta, and boiled eggs. Maybe that's why she doesn't touch her crumble. She eats it fine when she's with the flock. Should I be concerned? Should I lay off the treats until she get hungry enough to start eating her crumble? How long before I intervene should she continue to refuse? Thanks

 

[micstrachan]

Is she isolated just so you can administer meds or so she doesn’t infect the other birds? I would vote for letting her have time with the flock and just pulling her out at medicine time. How cold is it where you live? Does she need to be inside at night while recovering from her respiratory infection? How are you administering the antibiotic? Is that a factor in her isolation? (so the others don’t consume it)

 

[love me a henny]

She's isolated just to provide her with antibiotics and it is so the others don't get it and build up a resistance should they need it someday too. I'm using Terra-Vet 10 in her water. Her type of infection the vet says all birds carry and some may get sick while the others may not. It's not too cold here lately in the 60's at night. It's suppose to rain over the next few days though, but their protected from it in the coop and most of the run. I let them out to forage in the day time. She's still laying, and because of the antibiotic I
would have to throw away hers and her sisters eggs since I can't tell them apart.
If work didn't interfere I could put her out part of the day and in at night, or possibly provide antibiotic through a dropper if I knew she was getting enough. Yeah, not sure what else to do right now. She isn't severely sick, but does have wheezing and running nose. Shakes her head, and sneezes. Thanks so much for your reply!

 

[ChickNanny13]

To get her to eat, stop the treats & try mixing her crumbles with plain yogurt. Hope she gets better soon.

 

[love me a henny]

Great idea, she loves yogurt. Thanks.