Last ditch effort... antiobiotics?

[Berritt]

for my chick that is losing weight for no apparent reason (I posted previously) who has healthy flockmates, normal poops, and seems otherwise fine is either going to die anyway, or I don't know what. But no one seems to have any ideas, so someone suggested I treat her with antibiotics because, now, what can it hurt?

So what sort of antibiotic can I try? Broad spectrum? Any suggestions?

 

[OrpingtonManor]

I'll mention vitamins, although I'm sure someone else has already said it. Not all birds need exactly the same things, despite what the feed companies would like you to believe. I'd put vitamins and electrolytes in the water, if you haven't already.

 

[Berritt]

She's been on vitamins and electrolytes for days already without improvement.

 

[Berritt]

Anyone, please?

 

[MissJenny]

Have you checked her for mites or lice -- as I understand it, these are the two first and foremost reasons for a hen to inexplicably lose weight. The hens look fine, perfectly normal and then dead.

As for antibiotics, I am of no help.

Jenny

 

[sydney13]

u could check if she has worms

 

[OrpingtonManor]

It can take a couple of weeks of vitamins to see any change.

It's hard to give an answer here without being able to address some symptoms. There are so many antibiotics, that just picking one out of midair is probably not going to do a thing.

What else can you tell us? Sorry if you already posted this. I didn't see that post.

Have you wormed your flock recently?
What do you feed? Do you feed pellets or crumbles, and have you switched feed recently?
What kind of treats do you give? How much and how often?
What are the temps where you live?
Do you supplement light?
Is there adequate ventilation in the coop?
Is there too much draft in the coop?
Do they have access to oyster shell and grit?
How much do they free range?
What kind of plants do they eat when they free range?
Is this bird at the bottom of the pecking order?
Has this bird molted recently?
Is she laying?

Keep talking to us. We'll try to help.

 

[Berritt]

Have you wormed your flock recently? No. Poop looks normal, though. And the other 3 are now twice her size and growing.
What do you feed? Do you feed pellets or crumbles, and have you switched feed recently? Chick starter crumbles with chick scratch and some parakeet grit.
What kind of treats do you give? How much and how often? chick scratch started today and she is actually gobbling that down. They don't like eggs or yogurt. They ignored grapes too.
What are the temps where you live? Pacific NW but they are 7 weeks old and still inside my house in a 42x24 brooder.
Do you supplement light? No
Is there adequate ventilation in the coop? n/a
Is there too much draft in the coop? not too much draft in my house.
Do they have access to oyster shell and grit? parakeet grit, but that was just recently started. No oyster shell. They are babies.
How much do they free range? Haven't been outside, yet.
What kind of plants do they eat when they free range? n/a
Is this bird at the bottom of the pecking order? I can't even SEE the pecking order of these four! LOL
Has this bird molted recently? no
Is she laying? no



And that's why I am baffled!!

 

[Berritt]

I looked through her feathers and I don't SEE any lice or mites, but.... what am I looking for? She is dander-y. But no crawlies.

 

[OrpingtonManor]

hmm, I never saw dander on my birds. Can you get some of that dander and have a closer look? Maybe it's creepy-crawlie dander.
eta - if they are just at the temps of your house, they might still need a little heat. If you aren't supplementing light, then it's probably a bit cool for babies. At 7 weeks, they should be able to handle it, but this one baby might need something extra. I didn't realize this was a chick. They don't all thrive, sad to say. There may be nothing you can do.