Margo is in Trouble

[Wyorp Rock]

She's looking a bit better. We all do things differently...but when I have a girl that I know is having troubles with an egg and they are moving around as good as Margo, I give them Poultry Nutri-Drench (1cc per 3lbs) direct dose followed by plain water then give egg with Calcium. I then let them back with the others and just wait to see what happens. Often times within a few hours I see some chasing and someone has a shell membrane they are trying to keep from everyone else. Usually the hen that has been droopy perks back up quickly after the "egg" has been expelled.

 

[azygous]

Margot having her antibiotic treatment interrupted after just five days isn't advisable. Practice prying open her beak and slipping the entire 250mg capsule down her, then demonstrate the technique to your neighbor caregiver.

While breaking the dose into two may be better at keeping the antibiotic level constant, the convenience of just having to administer the antibiotic once is a fair trade-off to no antibiotic at all. It would make it easier for the caregiver in your absence. To suspend the antibiotic after just five days risks a relapse.

 

[micstrachan]

Well, that was most unpleasant. Poor Margo. She refused egg, so I crushed half a calcium citrate and 250mg of amoxicillin into a small amount of peanut butter, swaddled her, and forced small bits into the top of her beak. She fought hard, but I did manage to get her to swallow most of it. But I am mistaken... Margo is NOT better. She seems a little worse and I have to go to work. I will run up the hill at lunch and check on her. I hope the calcium and/or amoxicillin perk her up. I think I’m going to have to learn to tube feed her, though.

 

[Kathy Golla]

Wyorp Rocks experience with the soft shelled egg has been exactly my experience. The visual of a hen running around with an egg membrane made me chuckle.
So glad to hear Margo is up this morning. Michelle I hope you got some sleep last night!
What a large amount of expert firepower on this thread, its quite inspiring.
As, ahem, somewhat of a non novice in hen antibiotic administration, an option might be....
Administer the antibiotic and calcium orally yourself for the first couple of days so you can make sure its getting down her. The calciums a tough one since the pills are so large and chalky. She should be feeling much better in a few days. The calcium can be stopped per azygous' protocol/scenario. I like to administer my meds in liquid form. I crush up the meds and mix them in about 1 cc of apple juice in a syringe. Then I put them with a syringe down the side of the inside of the mouth, avoiding the birds breathing hole.
I think once Margo starts feeling better, she could take the antibiotics in a snack once a day. Hopefully she will do that for you. This might be easier for your neighbor to do if she can catch Margo and bring her somewhere she cant escape from...maybe a dog crate? Sometimes I do a dog crate and leave them there and cover the crate with a towel with the snack and bird inside.

 

[micstrachan]

Forgot to mention, she seems to be favoring one foot/leg, which I guess would be consistent with something pressing somewhere inside? Also, there was one small watery poop in the run that I think was hers.
I have to go to work, but I will try to get a little fluid in her before I go.

 

[azygous]

Yes, Michelle, we need to teach you to tube feed. It makes administering meds so much easier, not to mention more accurate. It's the best way to get fluids and food into a sick chicken that refuses to eat. Keep in mind that sweet Margot will respond better to the antibiotic if you can maintain her weight and energy level.

A friend gave me some oxygen tubing which I cut out a ten inch length with one of the end fittings still attached. I use baby strained meats and yogurt for tube feeding as it's just the right consistency. The antibiotic can be mixed with warm water and injected into the tube with a syringe with no danger of it being wasted or going into the airway.

I admit I was squeamish about tube feeding until I tried it. It really makes caring for a very sick chicken so much easier. The esophagus is easily entered by sliding the tube straight down the right side of the chickens throat. Both you and Margot will get used to the tube process in very little time.

You can also get a feeding tube and syringe from a vet's office. My vet sold me a set for just $3.

 

[micstrachan]

I’m about to drive away and poor Margo was standing there in one spot with her head hanging very very low. Her two original flock mates, Bridgette and Bagheera, are at her side.

 

[Kiki]

Well, that was most unpleasant. Poor Margo. She refused egg, so I crushed half a calcium citrate and 250mg of amoxicillin into a small amount of peanut butter, swaddled her, and forced small bits into the top of her beak. She fought hard, but I did manage to get her to swallow most of it. But I am mistaken... Margo is NOT better. She seems a little worse and I have to go to work. I will run up the hill at lunch and check on her. I hope the calcium and/or amoxicillin perk her up. I think I’m going to have to learn to tube feed her, though.

You are messing with her TOO much. Leave the poor girl alone. Stress kills!

 

[micstrachan]

I had a little cry on my way down the hill. Poor Margo.

@KikisGirls, I agree Margo should be handled as little as possible. However. with all due respect, I don’t think she is going to get through this without help. She is in much worse condition than Ruby was a few weeks ago, and is a lean bird to begin with. Please know that I do respect your opinion and don’t take your advice lightly. It’s a little confusing when I receive conflicting advice, but I do have a tendency to try to do too much, so thanks for helping me keep that in check. Ultimately, I guess I need to read my girl and follow my gut. Hopefully she’ll perk up while I’m at work (leaving her alone) and it warms up outside.

I will look into a tube feeding kit or lamb saver kit since it looks like tube feeding will be needed.

 

[casportpony]

How much does Margo weigh? I ask because amoxicillin should be given based on weight 2-3 times a day. The most common dose that vets recommend for chickens, ducks, peafowl, and turkeys is 125 mg/kg twice a day.

Edited to add:
125 mg/kg = ~57 mg per pound