Background: 11 in flock; 4 are 3 months, 7 are appr. 6 months. Of the flock, 1 presents more seriously than others. Least serious: coughing/sneezing a few times over past week--not more than a couple times in day, usually when dusty outside.
4 days ago Miriam (Red Star) was sleeping and sounded like she was snoring. (Sadly I thought "interesting! chickens snore!") Note: no discharge or coughing then. All other activity was normal.
3 days ago Eunice (BA) presented bubbly eye, some coughing. (Looked up frothing eye, started all on water w/tetracycline; no other water offered since. Changing & preparing according to directions.) Miriam was pretty normal, though a little slower than usual, and breathing as described above when sleepign. Eunice & others, but not Miriam, are pretty active and normal now. Frothing eye is going away.
But Miriam...oh, Miriam!
2 days ago: less active, more sleep, don't know extent of eat or drink.
Yesterday: she did go outside; eagerly drank water dripping from hose, walked a bit, took a short dust bath--but did not see her peck for food. Late afternoon picked her up from napping outside, cleaned her crusty nostrils, administered a couple mL's of water (w/tetracyc., garlic, ACV) by dropper. She slept on the roost bar along with others overnight.
This morning: she was still less active than others...standing/sleeping, had mucous draining from nostrils. Administered more water w/T, G, ACV solution by dropper at 8am; at noon gave pedialyte (several mL x dropper), 4 drops infant vitamins (enfamil brand, w/o iron), and water w/T, G, ACV. Seemed like she wanted more water (and pedialyte) than before, but was sleepy between droppers. When I put her down she walks herself, though slow, and she will open her eyes, but wants to go back to sleep first standing, then roosting/sitting.
Is there anything more I should be doing? Am I overdoing? Am I too impatient?
Other notes: comb/waddles on all are normal color, even Miriam's. No foul smell, massaged crop area (I think) but didn't notice hardness or mushiness; maybe emptiness or grittiness--not swollen. Coop maintenance is daily pickup of poo/dirty shavings & add of more shavings, if needed, w/DE. Complete change of shavings w/DE every 2-3 weeks. Egg production was avg of 3/day, up to 4, now 2-3 (we are cooking and feeding back, along w/plain organic yogurt, to flock while on anti-b's). Regular food is ground layer pellet, w/some oyster shell and some scratch mix, veggies from organic garden, plus their free range worms, bugs, etc.
Sorry this is so long...I'm afraid I will lose her. I Dread culling her, but don't want unnecessary suffering. Willing to wait it out if she is likely to recover with continued nursing. Can someone give me correction or encouragement?
Thank u--Kat
p.s.--formula for their water w/antibiotics is, per gallon, 2 teaspoons tetracycline powder, 3 tablespoons ACV (organic, natural), 3 cloves crushed garlic. They seem to like it.
4 days ago Miriam (Red Star) was sleeping and sounded like she was snoring. (Sadly I thought "interesting! chickens snore!") Note: no discharge or coughing then. All other activity was normal.
3 days ago Eunice (BA) presented bubbly eye, some coughing. (Looked up frothing eye, started all on water w/tetracycline; no other water offered since. Changing & preparing according to directions.) Miriam was pretty normal, though a little slower than usual, and breathing as described above when sleepign. Eunice & others, but not Miriam, are pretty active and normal now. Frothing eye is going away.
But Miriam...oh, Miriam!
2 days ago: less active, more sleep, don't know extent of eat or drink.
Yesterday: she did go outside; eagerly drank water dripping from hose, walked a bit, took a short dust bath--but did not see her peck for food. Late afternoon picked her up from napping outside, cleaned her crusty nostrils, administered a couple mL's of water (w/tetracyc., garlic, ACV) by dropper. She slept on the roost bar along with others overnight.
This morning: she was still less active than others...standing/sleeping, had mucous draining from nostrils. Administered more water w/T, G, ACV solution by dropper at 8am; at noon gave pedialyte (several mL x dropper), 4 drops infant vitamins (enfamil brand, w/o iron), and water w/T, G, ACV. Seemed like she wanted more water (and pedialyte) than before, but was sleepy between droppers. When I put her down she walks herself, though slow, and she will open her eyes, but wants to go back to sleep first standing, then roosting/sitting.
Is there anything more I should be doing? Am I overdoing? Am I too impatient?
Other notes: comb/waddles on all are normal color, even Miriam's. No foul smell, massaged crop area (I think) but didn't notice hardness or mushiness; maybe emptiness or grittiness--not swollen. Coop maintenance is daily pickup of poo/dirty shavings & add of more shavings, if needed, w/DE. Complete change of shavings w/DE every 2-3 weeks. Egg production was avg of 3/day, up to 4, now 2-3 (we are cooking and feeding back, along w/plain organic yogurt, to flock while on anti-b's). Regular food is ground layer pellet, w/some oyster shell and some scratch mix, veggies from organic garden, plus their free range worms, bugs, etc.
Sorry this is so long...I'm afraid I will lose her. I Dread culling her, but don't want unnecessary suffering. Willing to wait it out if she is likely to recover with continued nursing. Can someone give me correction or encouragement?
Thank u--Kat
p.s.--formula for their water w/antibiotics is, per gallon, 2 teaspoons tetracycline powder, 3 tablespoons ACV (organic, natural), 3 cloves crushed garlic. They seem to like it.
Been to many feed stores, no help.... so i am stuck! Is there a good chicken health book/source that would help?
