Please help Charlie the house chicken!

[geebs]

If he has cocci... do NOT use vitamins... not while using corid/amproline or sulmet... they are cocci inhibitors... you will cancel them out with the vitamins... I would suggest after the round of meds then give yogurt and scrambled egg (cooked) to up the protien content and replace bateria that is necessary. at that time you may give electrolytes and some Rooster Booster if you want.

 

[Terri O]

Quote:
thank you! he is a special guy to make it through...I was advised to euthanize him because of possible gangrene from the bare bones of his legs...the next morning he started crowing! I figured he couldnt be that bad off! Terri O

 

[Terri O]

Charlie seems a little better today! He crowed 2x and is sitting with his eyes open watching me. Today I will give him a bath and then should I dust him with wood ash again when he is dry? He ate some triscuit cracker this morning but does not seem to have any interest in his mash. Also he liked the water with the Sulmet (now discontinued) in it better than with the electrolytes--silly bird! Terri O

 

[possumqueen]

Could you find a large animal vet? A pet bird specialist would do the trick but would be very expensive. A farm vet might see a lot of chickens just through exposure. Or you might check with your local agriculture extension or state vet lab. The state vet lab might advise you, but don't ask them to look at your bird -- the lab here in North Carolina only does necropsies, which means dead bird! BUT the state vet lab would know a vet that is a poultry specialist.

Do you know how old he is? Advanced age might be part of his problem.

He would like the water he is used to. Switching him to the new water might take a little time because it's strange to him, and that's always suspicious to most any animal.

The care you've given this little guy to keep him healthy and happy this far is impressive. Keep up the good work!

And welcome to BYC!

 

[Terri O]

Thanks for the welcome! I did try using an avian vet thru the internet but I was leary about puting my credit card number on there!I will call my large animal vet and see what he has to say on Monday. I dont think he does chickens though...said to mix the tetracycline "until it is pale yellow" the one time I asked him. I like to be a bit more precise with drugs!
My camera is back today so here are 2 pics I just took of Charlie:

Terri o and Charlie the House Chicken

 

[jjthink]

What is Charlie's diet?
Extraordinarily good nutrition can only help right now. You might send for Avia Charge 2000 if you don't have it (Stromberg's or McMurray Hatchery). I add a little to their water everyday. Give when not contraindicated by any meds that he is put on.

 

[Terri O]

He is eating Vita Plus' laying mash...dry. He also gets some cat food when I feed my cats--he is such a beggar! Sometimes he get some bread or table scraps if the dogs dont steal them out of his cage! Terri O

 

[suburbanminifarm]

Sending best wishes for Charlie's recovery! He's lucky to have you!

 

[meriruka]

Quote:
My indoor chicken is addicted to cat food -she fusses something awful if she doesn't get some when the cats are fed.
Be sure & give Charlie some grit to help digest all his treats. Hope he gets better soon!

 

[jjthink]

There is some debate on this topic, and probably not related to Charlie's current troubles, but I don't feed layer food to my roo because of the calcium content. He gets - well, they both get - game bird maintenance. I used to also put out layer food for the little lady but she opted for the game bird maintenance and then gets her calcium from crushed oyster shells. Once when BJ roo was being fed by somebody else for awhile (my mom was very ill on other side of state and I was there much of the time) they slacked off on the roo food and gave only layer. Months layer BJ had a lot of pain in his feet and was holding them up a lot. I gave him lots of cherries for awhile in case it was gout from the excess calcium and in time he got much better.
JJ