Sick chicken in GA-- advice needed

[New2theFlock]

I threw away the lash egg b/c it was smelly and gross. But it had a spongy texture and squished easily when I pressed on it. It was the width of .y thumb and about an inch or two long. I'm sorry not to have kept it.

Bumblefoot. Ugh. I've tried so hard to keep them out of the mud, but the run is on a slope (we are in the mountains) and the ground cover in the uncovered part of the run washes down the hill every time.

I read that step 1 is soak her foot in Epson salt for several days and that will help if we caught it early. Meanwhile I should check the other girls to see if they have it also.

I also got the permethrin 10, mixed a water as per instructions, and sprayed Sick Chicken down. Poor girl is so sick she didn't even care. I also sprayed down the inside of the coop, including perches w special attn to the corners, and sprayed down the newly clean nesting box dividers and put them back into the coop. Then I tried to spray the 7 healthy girls, who didn't like that one bit. I think I got them a little as they ran to and fro. Should have taken video. . . .

 

[SmiYa0126]

Ugh I know what you mean, I haven't gagged as much as now that I have chickens, lol. Don't get me wrong, I love them, they're just gross.

Yes, for bumble foot soak and wrap.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Update: sick chicken pooped out this today: also look at the sore on her talon.

The bumblefoot is a minor thing, it's not something I'd really worry with at this point.

She passed a lash egg, so she has Salpingitis. This is inflammation of the oviduct, sometimes a hen may respond to antibiotics, but there really is no "cure" for this condition.
Depending on where you live, you may be able to find Amoxicillin in your TSC.
If not, you can order it online. Dose is 57mg per pound of weight given orally twice a day for 7-10 days.

Here's some reading about Salpingitis:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/salpingitis-lash-eggs-in-backyard/
https://the-chicken-chick.com/causes-of-lash-eggs-salpingitis-by/

 

[New2theFlock]

The bumblefoot is a minor thing, it's not something I'd really worry with at this point.

She passed a lash egg, so she has Salpingitis. This is inflammation of the oviduct, sometimes a hen may respond to antibiotics, but there really is no "cure" for this condition.
Depending on where you live, you may be able to find Amoxicillin in your TSC.
If not, you can order it online. Dose is 57mg per pound of weight given orally twice a day for 7-10 days.

Here's some reading about Salpingitis:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/salpingitis-lash-eggs-in-backyard/
https://the-chicken-chick.com/causes-of-lash-eggs-salpingitis-by/

This was very helpful guidance. Thanks so much. I got the antibiotics at my local farm store, but it is a capsule designed for fish!! This is what the employee said was best for chickens. I followed the dosage guidance you gave here and on the bottle and squirted it into her mouth following advice from a video I watched, and she did fine.

I'm wondering if you have tips and tricks to share for how to mix up the solution with minimum liquid so I can squirt it all in her mouth at once vs so many dosages. Neither of us liked that very much.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I got the antibiotics at my local farm store, but it is a capsule designed for fish!! This is what the employee said was best for chickens. I followed the dosage guidance you gave here and on the bottle and squirted it into her mouth following advice from a video I watched, and she did fine.

Dose is 57mg per pound of weight given orally twice a day for 7-10 days.

The powder in the capsules don't mix very well with water.

How much does she weigh and what mg of capsule do you have (usually 250mg or 500mg)?

Here's an easy way to dose and divide up the capsule.

Mix the powder with something "known" like 1 teaspoon coconut oil. Mix well.

Say you have 500mg capsules and need a dose of 125mg. Divide your tsp of mixed oil into 4 equal parts. Roll up each part or shape them into little balls (pills). Put them in the fridge or freezer to harden. Now you have a "pill" you can just pop into her beak when it's time to dose her.
Does that make sense?

Others may use 1 teaspoon of canned cat food, yogurt, liverwurst...just mix with something that you can divide fairly easily and that you can get into her beak LOL

 

[New2theFlock]

The powder in the capsules don't mix very well with water.

How much does she weigh and what mg of capsule do you have (usually 250mg or 500mg)?

Here's an easy way to dose and divide up the capsule.

Mix the powder with something "known" like 1 teaspoon coconut oil. Mix well.

Say you have 500mg capsules and need a dose of 125mg. Divide your tsp of mixed oil into 4 equal parts. Roll up each part or shape them into little balls (pills). Put them in the fridge or freezer to harden. Now you have a "pill" you can just pop into her beak when it's time to dose her.
Does that make sense?

Others may use 1 teaspoon of canned cat food, yogurt, liverwurst...just mix with something that you can divide fairly easily and that you can get into her beak LOL

It worked!!! She loved the frozen coconut oil with medicine mixed in. No need to shove it in her beak: she gobbled it up! Thank you so much!!

And she's getting better day by day. Until the one of the others attacked her this morning b/c I gave her peach peels with bee pollen and prevented them from getting any, she had been in w the others. But Sick Chicken is still barely eating, and the others are fat. But sadly I think I caused the problem.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm glad it worked!

Oh dear! You may have to give everyone a treat if that's the case.

If I have something special exclusively for one bird that I'm tending. I'll gather them up and take them out of sight, give them their goody, meds, etc., then return them to the flock. Usually when I return, I throw a bit of a treat to everyone so she goes back in while the flock is busy chasing their treats.

Do the best you can. Sometimes re-integration is a bit dicey to begin with.