Sick Chick New chicken owner .. any advice? Sunday: still with us!

Wheezing is just not a normal thing. It might be just something today, but it makes me wonder if she's just now presenting some symptoms of an illness that she's had.

The trick even with a good antibiotic like Tylan is you STILL don't really know if it's the right one usually, or if it's even bacterial. But it's a great one to try for a few things, and the injections are just 3 days long and very fast acting. The nice thing about Tylan50 injectable is that you can also use it as a flush if you had birds with exudate caused by a bacterial infection.

For shots, they're about like horses. You'll want to do it IM (like you do for most horse injections) in the breast. Like with a horse, you'll draw the meds the same, get all air out, then when you put the syringe in pull the plunger out first to look for blood. If you're NOT seeing blood, then it's safe to push the plunger in. If the chicken moves, I always double check.

With Tylan injectable, you'll want to do a different place on the breast each day. If you're treating multiple birds, do the same spot on each chicken each day so you know where not to give a shot on all chickens the next day.

A 3cc syringe with the usual cat/dog 25gauge needle is what you want.

You can still do the yogurt on Tylan as it's "tylosin". And do continue the vitamins until the symptoms are gone, and then taper off.

Are they getting any electrolytes? Anything like that in the water? (I can't recall.)
 
Thanks threehorses.

She was about the same when I did the night check and put everybody up. She is still in quarantine for now. No other chicks are showing any signs of anything.
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I plan to pick up the Tylan tomorrow if all is well tomorrow morning. Thanks for the quick tutorial.
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I'm giving this one the PolyViSol that was mentioned earlier. What sort of electrolyte should I give? I may have some of the stuff for horses on hand..... should I just do a small pinch in her waterer?

I know I'll end up going out late tonight and checking on her.. won't be able to get sleep, lol.
 
On the electrolyte, you always want to aim at something for poultry. There are many things that can be shared between horses and chickens, but sadly electrolytes are not one of them. So try to pick up two package of a poultry vitamin/electrolyte. One to use now, and one in case of emergency.

If you don't have any on hand and something happens, using gatorade or pedialyte for a day in a pinch can be helpful. But poultry (being avian) do better with electrolytes that keep their sodium requirements in mind versus those of other animals.

I do hope you find her well and you're able to get some rest. Your health is important, too.
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Okay she's still with us today! She seems about the same, no worse. There is again some small normal looking poops. It looks like she did eat a bit through the night, her crop is still small though.

I got the Tylan and syringes etc.. they only had 22g needles
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meh... I like the smaller the better lol.

So my next question is what would the dosage be? She is a small pullet almost 2 mos old. At a guess maybe 1/2 pound weight wise? My sister is bringing a small scale over later.

I also got some electrolytes that say for poultry on them and I'm gonna mix up a bit and use a dropper to get some in her. Gave her the vitamins again this morning also.
 
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Is the Tylan the Tylan50 specifically?

I wouldn't medicate her just yet. Hold on to that, let the vitamins and electrolytes have a couple of days to get in her since she's not showing any real strong symptoms of anything yet, and since she ate a bit. Can you tempt her to eat in front of you? A damp mash? Were you able to give her any probiotics, anything like that?
 
She died.
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yes threehorses.. it is Tylan50.. I would still like to know the dosage etc. None of the others are showing any symptoms at all, and I have been completely OCD about sanitizing etc after treating her.
Part of me is thinking it may have something to do with her being so runty for so long...


Thanks for all the help and information the last few days. At least now I have I have somewhat of a supply of meds etc building for any future illness. *knock wood*
 
It wouldn't be unheard of that she was from a line that had issues. There are some breeders/hatcheries that breed for numbers and aren't paying attention to quality or getting some outside blood. Or maybe, typical of birds, she had something going on for a while and was hiding it.

If you can do a necropsy, I would highly recommend it for the sake of your peace of mind and the rest of your flock. I would not treat anyone until you see a symptom. You do NOT want to use Tylan as a prevention. Of course you alread know this. :)It's too important a medicine to use without having a good reason. So hold on to it. It's great stuff. The dosage is usually 1/4 cc for an adult medium to small bird, 1/2 cc's for a large 8 pound or so bird. With that dosage, I'd imagine for her size it would be less than 1/4cc?

I would definitely use the vitamins/electrolytes for the other birds in the flock. take this time to really boost their nutrition and immune system. If you have tumeric, you can try using that in their feed a little - just a sprinkle on top. Yogurt for the live bacteria can help their digestive tract. Of course good fresh food is a must. The boiled/crushed eggs will give them a boost in over all nutrients.

Then watch them all carefully, pick them up this week, etc.

/hugs for your loss.
 
Thanks I will definitely continue with the vitamins and yogurt on the rest of them.
She weighed 1#3oz... so probably less than 1/4 for sure...

yeah I am one of those that hates to medicate unnecessarily anyway.

Tumeric like the spice?
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Should I just mix the electrolytes and vitamins in their water? I could do them each with the dropper but I'm not sure if they would appreciate that! Lol Also not sure how easy they can aspirate fluids if they are fussing about?

Also I picked up some Calf Manna for my older birds to help with eggs.... can I give the babies some or is too much Protein at this stage?


Thank you again for all your help during this!
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I am SOOOO glad to have found this site!
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Tumeric, the spice, yes. Yes on the electrolytes/vitamins in the water as long as they're not being medicated. On the polyvisol give those directly.

Are they drinking, these babies?

I love CalfManna - but at this age with other stuff going on I'd just wait for now. But I bet your adults love it. Mine will pick it all out of the feed bins.
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All of the others are doing great! Eating Drinking Scratching.. running after any bug silly enough to get in the tractor!

And yes my adults LOVE the Calf Manna!

Will give a bit of electrolyte in their water today and dose them with the Vitamins when I get home at lunch again.

Again, many many thank you's!
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