Sick Hen

[Cochin Love]

Hello Friends! I just got back from the vet with my favorite bird, sweet Miss Annelle. She is a 6.5 year old Cochin. We were told she had some sort of respiratory infection. She was given an injection of long acting antibiotic and, if symptoms improve, a dewormer to give in 3 days, in case of any parasites. She is separated from her sisters, in the house, resting. But, in the meantime, I am trying to get her to stay hydrated. Is it ok to give her pedialyte? Does anyone recommend anything else? She isn't drinking at the moment, and hasn't eaten since yesterday. How can I get her to drink? To eat? I don't want to force. I have offered water, but no luck. I don't want to stress her out, but with her being so sick I don't want her to get dehydrated. Any advice would be appreciated.Thank you!

 

[Friendly_Lurker]

You need to force feed her water with a needleless syringe. She needs to stay hydrated.

@Miss Lydia @Nabiki @sourland

 

[Nabiki]

I know quail far better than I do chickens, but I would offer something like Save-a-chick or Nutri-drench mixed with water with a pipette or dropper. My quail will usually take it that way.

 

[Cochin Love]

You need to force feed her water with a needleless syringe. She needs to stay hydrated.

@Miss Lydia @Nabiki @sourland

I will. Have you ever used Vet RX?

 

[ChicNmom]

I had a sick hen that loved honey water. You can try sugar water too. I just dipped her beak in it so she could get a taste then left her with that as the only water since she wasn't eating.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Unflavored Pedialyte would be fine and do use a syringe without a needle and just drop the liquid along the outside of her bill or use a dropper. Hopefully once the antibiotic begins working she'll begin to drink and eat. You don't want to force the liquid down her throat for fear of it going in the wrong hole and causing Pneumonia.
Vet RX is like vicks vapor rub for us humans, just a swipe across the nares not in them and under each wing. I'd use a cotton ball or qtip to just get enough to wipe across the nares not wet enough to go in them.

 

[Cochin Love]

Thank you

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hopefully, you'll see her perk up in a few days from the antibiotic.

 

[sourland]

Great advice from @Miss Lydia

 

[Cochin Love]

Hopefully, you'll see her perk up in a few days from the antibiotic.

I hope so! Thank you