Please help this hen earn a name

[rancher hicks]

Quote:
This would be my suggestion too. I usually give my birds a small amount of vitamins once a month just in case. Can't hurt and may help. I try to worm them all twice a year.

On the other hand I wouldn't hatch eggs from this bird. You don't want to support a line of birds that are not hardy.

 

[CSisley]

Quote:
That's a good point. I'm pretty positive she had more than just an infestation of round worms. My hypothesis is that the roundworm infestation occurred first which then lead to a weakening of the immune system which caused her to be susceptible to a virus of some sort. This leads me to wonder about the condition of the rest of my flock. I’ve read that worms showing up in the poop are rare unless the infestation is particularly bad and that if you do see this it’s likely that the rest of the flock are infested as well. I’ve also read that unsanitary conditions can cause roundworm problems but in my case I think it came from eating earthworms because they spend most of their time outside roaming half an acre. I’d like to worm them but I haven’t done enough research to know which medication will work the best with the least amount of side effects. I hate to pump them with possibly harmful medications as a kneejerk reaction when rest of the flock appear healthy and have continued to lay faithfully. On the other hand, I’d like to take noninvasive preventative measures… Ahh the dilemmas of owning animals.

 

[CSisley]

Quote:
This would be my suggestion too. I usually give my birds a small amount of vitamins once a month just in case. Can't hurt and may help. I try to worm them all twice a year.

On the other hand I wouldn't hatch eggs from this bird. You don't want to support a line of birds that are not hardy.

What vitamin source do you use? I just recently ordered Avia Charge 2000. Also, what have you found to be an effective wormer?

I agree with your second comment. I'd hate to end up with more birds that end up suffering from the same problem.

 

[emilysteng]

My vet recommends worming once a year with Fendebazole. Brand names Panacur and Safeguard. The first time I took Casino in for this round of illness he checked her stool for worms and found one called Capillaria. So he prescribed the Fendebazole and I gave it to her once a day for 5 days. Last week when I took her in he did a check and she was worm free this time.

She's a wild chicken and roams around completely free so that is why he recommended the worming. She also had the same wormer once a year ago. Didn't seem to have any ill effects on her.

 

[chkn]

Quote:
That's a good point. I'm pretty positive she had more than just an infestation of round worms. My hypothesis is that the roundworm infestation occurred first which then lead to a weakening of the immune system which caused her to be susceptible to a virus of some sort. This leads me to wonder about the condition of the rest of my flock. I’ve read that worms showing up in the poop are rare unless the infestation is particularly bad and that if you do see this it’s likely that the rest of the flock are infested as well. I’ve also read that unsanitary conditions can cause roundworm problems but in my case I think it came from eating earthworms because they spend most of their time outside roaming half an acre. I’d like to worm them but I haven’t done enough research to know which medication will work the best with the least amount of side effects. I hate to pump them with possibly harmful medications as a kneejerk reaction when rest of the flock appear healthy and have continued to lay faithfully. On the other hand, I’d like to take noninvasive preventative measures… Ahh the dilemmas of owning animals.

+++

Yes, I just had to worm my dog tonight because she's been wildly dragging her rear around even though she's just been 'expressed'. I give 1/2 ml (or 1/2 cc) of Valbazen for my birds which are average size. I repeat in 7-10 days. I'd do it at least twice a year. It's half that dose for a smaller variety.

 

[CSisley]

~Update~

About two weeks ago she started being able to walk forward without too much trouble and this development has steadily gotten better and better with her motions becoming more coordinated and taking less mental effort on her part. The most exciting development has been in the last three days. I’ve always kept food in her cage with the hope that she would start eating on her own. I would always check her crop before each feeding to see if perhaps she had beaten me to the task. For MONTHS I felt an empty crop and with a sigh I would commence force feeding her. I am thrilled to say that my routine has been broken by a crop that I did not fill. Hallelujah!

Somehow I started calling her Henny Penny instead of "the sick hen" so maybe it will stick. Whatever her name may be, she’s a tough one. I'd update the pictures I took of her since she's looking much better these days but I think the SD slot on my computer may be on the fritz because it's not registering my camera card. If this problem gets resolved I'll be sure to post some pictures.