syringe question

[trudyg]

I'm looking for a very slender syringe to give medications with. The only ones I can find at Tractor Supply have a fairly large barrel, even on the smallest ones. Is this the kind everyone uses? I think it's kinda big for sticking down their throat, past the breathing hole. Where would I get a more slender one? The pharmacy? Thanks.

 

[PirateGirl]

I've gotten pretty small ones at the regular pharmacy, or somewhere that sells baby stuff for administering meds to human infants!

 

[slordaz]

ye the pharmacy is better bet than the farm store and usually a lot cheaper and smaller size for chickens

 

[Shadrach]

I'm looking for a very slender syringe to give medications with. The only ones I can find at Tractor Supply have a fairly large barrel, even on the smallest ones. Is this the kind everyone uses? I think it's kinda big for sticking down their throat, past the breathing hole. Where would I get a more slender one? The pharmacy? Thanks.

There are ways around this if you can't find a syringe of a small enough diameter.
The most obvious is to attach a tube. You can buy various tubes.
One problem I've had with small diameter syringes is should one be trying to get food into a chicken then a small syringe means removing and refilling. One large syringe with a tube can solve this.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/attachments/p8141717-jpg.1877446/

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

I personally like to measure in a cup and administer via an eyedropper. That is until my cat got sick. My vet gave us liquid meds with medical syringes that can disassembled and cleaned. I find they work great. I would check vet supply stores like:
https://www.shopmedvet.com/category/syringes-and-needles

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm looking for a very slender syringe to give medications with. The only ones I can find at Tractor Supply have a fairly large barrel, even on the smallest ones. Is this the kind everyone uses? I think it's kinda big for sticking down their throat, past the breathing hole. Where would I get a more slender one? The pharmacy? Thanks.

The smallest I have seen at TSC are 3ml. Depending on your state regulations, ask your pharmacist for a few infant syringes - most of the time they will give them for free (mine has, they were amused it was for a chicken).

I did order some off ebay or amazon, can't remember - they come in handy. Look for 1cc syringes without needles. If you buy "bulk" you can get them for around 12¢ ea, not too bad and they are individually packaged/sterile. I just store them in my chicken first aid box. Pippettes would be another option, but I feel like I don't have quite as much control over those as a syringe.

 

[Eggcessive]

If you go to Walmart in the pharmacy, ask the clerk for a couple of 1 ml syringes for giving babies medicines. They are free. No needles are on them, but you could also ask for a 1ml syringe with a needle for withdrawing injectable medicine from a vial.

 

[trudyg]

Thanks all! I just ordered some off Amazon, 50 per box and $0.10 each. Wonderful. I could stop at the pharmacy but they always nag at me to look into hospice for DH and so I avoid them. He may be down, but not that far down!

 

[N0rthernChicks]

Try your local vet. I work at a veterinary office and have had people walk in and ask if we could spare some 1ml syringes for their birds. We usually just give a couple out because they come free with most of our liquid medications.