Old hen breathing problems

[Suzierd]

I noticed my old banty hen is breathing weird when she goes in to take a nap like she's real stuffed up. Is she sick or just old? What should I do to help her?

 

[Suzierd]

How do you tell the difference between gapeworm or respiratory? She does open her mouth now and then and makes a funny noise I thought she was talking to the other hen. She is still eating. Should I take her stool into the vet?

 

[dawg53]

You're most likely dealing with a respiratory problem. If it were gapeworm, she'd be dead by now.

 

[Suzierd]

Thanks Dawg, I'm off to get the Tylan 50 injectable and give her 1/4 cc for five days. I have never forced anything down a chickens throat before I hope I can get it in her.
How do you know she would be dead already?

 

[dawg53]

Thanks Dawg, I'm off to get the Tylan 50 injectable and give her 1/4 cc for five days. I have never forced anything down a chickens throat before I hope I can get it in her.
How do you know she would be dead already?

Here's a link, Posts #13 and #14. Covey Rise Plantation is the expert regarding gapeworm:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/602699/worming-chickens/10#post_7931055
As far as administering the tylan orally, pull the wattles down and her mouth will open. Squirt it in her mouth and immediately release the wattles so she can swallow it on her own. If you dont release the wattles, it could go down her windpipe and she could aspirate.

 

[Suzierd]

The only Tylan I could find is a big bottle for 44 dollar they had nothing for single dosees. They recommend Duramycin-10 said it's in the same family. Good news I just add it to water no forcing down the throat, bad news I have to treat the whole flock or separate her which I don't want to do because I worry they will pick on her when I put her back in like she's the new kid on the block. They insist it wont hurt a bit to treat everybody. I don't eat my chickens so no worries there. Only one chicken laying right now most are too young so not worried about not getting eggs.
Thanks for the links about gapeworm. I plan on worming this spring because I never have, but I'll wait till the antibiotic ordeal is done. Thanks for your help.

 

[Suzierd]

There's two different doses one for CRD air SAC Disease 400-800 mg tetracycline hydrochloride per gallon per day, or Infectious Synovitis level of 200-400 mg tetracycline hydrochloride per gallon per day? Which one do I go by? Good grief it couldn't just be easy could it.

 

[Suzierd]

I only have seven Chickens 2 bantys and 5 Silkies if I have to change it out every day I would think 2 gallons mixed a day would be plenty. Not sure how to dose.

This is what I get on the package
Mixing instructions: 6.4 oz will make 100 gal of 100 mg of tetracycline hydrochloride/ gal
50 gal containing 200 mg of TH/gal
25 gal containing 400 mg of TH/ gal
12.5 gal containing 800 mg TH/ gal

 

[Suzierd]

Figured out the dose is 1 tablespoon per gallon. Decided not to treat everybody really don't like that idea. Going to set up a rabbit cage in the coop with a nest box and just keep her in there for 14 days. Hoping everybody will get along when it comes time to release her if I manage to save her.
Wondering if she might be having a reaction to the pine shavings I just recently put in the coop. Removed as many as I could.

 

[dawg53]

Figured out the dose is 1 tablespoon per gallon. Decided not to treat everybody really don't like that idea. Going to set up a rabbit cage in the coop with a nest box and just keep her in there for 14 days. Hoping everybody will get along when it comes time to release her if I manage to save her.
Wondering if she might be having a reaction to the pine shavings I just recently put in the coop. Removed as many as I could.

You are correct about the duramycin dosage, 1 tablespoon per gallon of water. They didnt tell you that tylan is more potent than duramycin. They also didnt tell you that duramycin has a 21 day withdrawal period after last use and that you have to make it fresh on a daily basis in order to be effective.
The bad thing about soluable powders mixed in water is this; sick birds wont drink, if they do, they wont drink enough of it to be effective. You still might have to give her an eyedropperful orally 5-6 times a day to be effective until she can drink the treated mixture on her own. If you do this, dont squirt it all into her mouth at once, just a little at a time so she wont aspirate, like administering the tylan.
I wouldnt pay $44 for a big bottle of tylan neither. The smaller bottle can be ordered from Jefferslivestock.com FYI.