Oral Penicillin

[Pohaku]

Our 12 yr old rooster, Pooper had all the symptoms for Blackhead illness. He just completed metronidazole for the 5 days and today, started his 5 day treatment with fenbendazole. However, I believe he also has secondary infection.

I have 250 mg capsules of penicillin. I've searched and searched but haven't found anything definite yet on the dosage, how often and how many days to administer. It's unforgivable that we didn't catch it sooner, poor Pooper. I hope it's not too late. Maybe we're not doing the right thing. Your assistance will be much appreciated.

 

[Eggcessive]

Most people give injectable procaine penicillin G to chickens. Amoxicillin or Clavamox are commonly given to chickens however, and the dosage can be found pretty easily here with a search. What are his symptoms of a secondary infection? Tylan and oxytetracycline work well for respiratory and some intestinal infections. Sulfa drugs are sometimes used.

 

[Pohaku]

Thank you for responding. The feed store only carries oral antibiotics. I may have to go further and get the injectables.

I'm not sure if he has secondary infection but since the read on Blackhead ailment talks of secondary infection, I might be jumping the gun as he is pretty ill. A month ago, he was treated for gape worms although I couldn't detect any in his feces. He continued with watery feces, then alot of yellow ones.

Since his treatment for Blackhead ended a couple days ago, he has white chalky with green bits, some foamy, and watery with semi solid feces. He was eating only 10% a month ago but for the past 2 wks have upped to 50%. Still not interested in his grains and whatever few bits of millet is passed out whole, undigested. He mainly is eating various fresh fruits, veggies, live culture yogurt, cheese, bread, maybe a couple of garden roaches or grasshoppers, a couple of bites of scrabbled eggs. Supplemented with probiotics, electrolytes, vitamins, ACV, black cherry juices. Will follow up with milk thistle.

So far he is holding at 3 lbs, down from his 4 1/2 lbs. His red comb turned pinkish, soft and fallen to the side, his red face turned pale pink. His wattles are paling and shrinking. Footpads are deflated. Drastic decrease in crowing and grooming. A lot of sleeping, resting and tail down. Weakness.

However, all through his 2 months of ailing, there's been no mucus, coughing, sneezing, watery eyes, vomiting, wheezing, gurgling or lameness.

Having just completed the metronidazole on the 20th and started the fenbendazole on the 21st, am I expecting too much too soon? I don't know the symptoms of secondary infection. Then again, he might have something else instead. It's worrisome that he is so weak.

 

[Eggcessive]

Blackhead is pretty rare in chickens, as is gapeworm. Gapeworm cannot be seen in the droppings, but only in the trachea or windpipe upon when doing a necropsy on a dead bird. Since gapeworm is usually in tropical areas where the Surinam cockroach lives (and is a host for the worms) I wouldn't let him eat roaches. If you can get a vet to test a stool sample or even to see him, it might be best to find out if there are worms, what kind, and to test for possible enteritis. A 12 year old rooster is getting pretty old, so he may just be showing signs of his age. Casportpony is a BYCmember that has treated blackhead in one of her chickens before, and a PM to her may help.