Margo is in Trouble

[micstrachan]

Margo seems a little better this morning. She’s in her hospital and I saw her pick at feed. Her tail isn’t so low, but she’s mostly just standing there. Did not handle her for meds. Opened amoxicillin and crushed calcium into wet dog food. She ignored it. Tried again with sardines and she ate some! This may be her irrisistable treat! However, as you probably know, the amoxicillin powder is bitter. Yesterday she ate some sardines heartily (practice run) and today she just picked at it, even though she might feel a little better. I suspect this is because of the bitter taste. Can chickens taste that? If she’s consumed very little, I’ll pop her pills before I go, but I was hoping for thevsardine plan while I’m gone.

 

[aart]

Might be good to leave her in hospital so you can see if she eats them thru the day?
I know confinement can bring extra stress but may be better while you are gone....course no time to test that theory. Good Luck!

 

[Kiki]

Margo seems a little better this morning. She’s in her hospital and I saw her pick at feed. Her tail isn’t so low, but she’s mostly just standing there. Did not handle her for meds. Opened amoxicillin and crushed calcium into wet dog food. She ignored it. Tried again with sardines and she ate some! This may be her irrisistable treat! However, as you probably know, the amoxicillin powder is bitter. Yesterday she ate some sardines heartily (practice run) and today she just picked at it, even though she might feel a little better. I suspect this is because of the bitter taste. Can chickens taste that? If she’s consumed very little, I’ll pop her pills before I go, but I was hoping for thevsardine plan while I’m gone.

I agree...I think she should stay locked up today too.

 

[micstrachan]

She actually doesn’t seem too stressed in there. And her sisters are right by her.

 

[Kiki]

She actually doesn’t seem too stressed in there. And her sisters are right by her.

Good.
take a picture of her food and water levels now.
Then take another one, same angle, when you get off work.

It will tell you if she is eating or not.

Although I don't believe she has ever stopped eating.
It will also tell you if she lays an egg, but being caged is "different" for her which means she may not lay an egg in the cage.

 

[micstrachan]

She’s actually in a familiar area that is inside the run and familiar to all of them. I set it up this way in advance to handle a situation like this. Margo has chosen on her own accord to lay an egg in there before. I am leaving in a couple hours for five days. The main concern is figuring out how someone else can get meds into her without handling her.

 

[micstrachan]

The most promising option, though not the most nutritious, has been a bread.

 

[micstrachan]

The handling definitely does stress her out. She is used to having gentle touches from me. Yesterday I set her on my lap and when she realized I wasn’t going to put anything in her mouth, she kind of melted onto me and and enjoyed a snuggle.

 

[PouleChick]

when she realized I wasn’t going to put anything in her mouth, she kind of melted onto me and and enjoyed a snuggle.

Cute - glad she is doing better. What has your neighbour said about giving the ABs?

 

[micstrachan]

My husband’s going to be home most of the days, and he’s going to give the meds. I’m going to teach him how to do the pills before I leave. I was just hoping it wasn’t going to come to that. My neighbor is willing to try meds in/on feed/treat, but I’m not asking him to try to force them on her.