Margo is in Trouble

[Tesumph]

Been silently following this thread trying to learn a thing or two..

Can someone explain why antibiotics are being given? Can a hen have EYP and also be laying perfectly normal eggs (penguin posture or not)?

 

[rebrascora]

Why not practice on one of your other hens. It should not hurt them to have you practice inserting the tube rather than practice on Margo. Then hopefully it will go smoother with Margo if you need to do it.

 

[casportpony]

Can someone explain why antibiotics are being given? Can a hen have EYP and also be laying perfectly normal eggs (penguin posture or not)?

They can have a repro-tract infection and be laying eggs.

 

[casportpony]

Why not practice on one of your other hens. It should not hurt them to have you practice inserting the tube rather than practice on Margo. Then hopefully it will go smoother with Margo if you need to do it.

That is a brilliant idea! This is one of those times where I wish I could give a post 1000 likes!

 

[Tesumph]

They can have a repro-tract infection and be laying eggs.

If antibiotics are being thrown at her as a catch-all, why not try something less intense like a dewormer first?

 

[rebrascora]

That is a brilliant idea! This is one of those times where I wish I could give a post 1000 likes!

Not bad logic for 3am is it! Afraid I am going to have to head off to get some zzzzs though, much as I want to stay and keep you all company and support Michelle and Margo. I know I am leaving her in good hands.

 

[rebrascora]

If antibiotics are being thrown at her as a catch-all, why not try something less intense like a dewormer first?

The bird is a good body weight for her breed and is actively laying, albeit with difficulty at the moment. I'm not sure why you think a dewormer is relevant either?

 

[micstrachan]

Brilliant! I’ll practice on Millie; she’s the most docile.

Offered Margo wet feed with egg and she went to bed instead. But there was lots of commotion because I threw a couple wheat berries to get the flock away from her and she wanted part of that action... got pushed around a bit. I left the wet feed egg mix next to her roost, just in case. Gonna offer her egg one last time now tha she’s settled down.

 

[Kathy Golla]

Michelle I think there’s no harm in tube feeding Margo. Fluids and food cannot hurt her. Per your posts she’s refusing food and water. As long as it’s not super stressful to her, you are right.
Try it on another hen and see what you think.
This hen is psyching you out. She may be putting all her energy into keeping her spot in the pecking order. She not going to get Miraculously better on her own. You are going to be a wreck. We should begin removing variables.
If you don’t tube feed her you should make sure you are keeping really good tabs on if she is eating and drinking so we can remove that variable.

 

[Tesumph]

The bird is a good body weight for her breed and is actively laying, albeit with difficulty at the moment. I'm not sure why you think a dewormer is relevant either?

I don’t necessarily think it’s relevant, but I’m not sure why antibiotics are either. If she’s struggling with appetite a potentially unneeded antibiotic certainly won’t help. I would think other things for a lethargic but otherwise healthy bird would be tried first?

I’m just trying to follow the thought process of everything I guess. I’m about to reread the thread from the beginning for the third time lol.