think injections are stressing my chicken

[FLSwampStomer]

My chicken has high white blood cell count and anemia, she was prescribed Zosyn Injections twice a day.

She normally comes to me, but now she runs when I pick her up, she thinks she's getting a shot.

We moved her to a new coop this morning that is much bigger, with a nice roost.

This evening she layed a soft egg.

she had her first injection Saturday night; I don't know if it's the injections or coop change that's stressing her.


I don't want to put her back in the old coop because of a mite problem, and it's very small. I'm hesitant to inject her tonight because I'm worried about too much stress. I don't want to skip a dose because she still has a messy butt.

Any suggestions? I'm just worried she is under too much stress.

 

[Eggcessive]

I had to look up Zosyn, and it is a combination of penicillin drugs. I'm wondering if your vet couldn't prescribe an oral antibiotic such as clavamox or amoxicillin instead. Twice a day injections for a chicken is pretty painful and can damage muscle tissue. When chicken people use Procaine Penicillin G, they usually just give one injection daily for 4 days. What type of infection does your vet think she has? Is the anemia from mites? A once a day injection would be easier because you could give it after dark which shouldn't stress her, but she sure is getting a lot of shots. But of course I'm not a vet.

 

[FLSwampStomer]

The vet doesn't tell me the type of infection.

I took her to an avian vet, she has 25 years experience treating birds and countless chickens.

She originally prescribed oral antibiotics, but my chicken was refusing them and then we changed to the injections.

I just went out there and gave her the shot, she was very calm and it went well.

Only two days left of the injections, I can't wait for them to be over.

As for the anemia, she thinks its the bacterial infection causing that. A microscope feather analysis showed no eggs or mites.

Her skin is very red, there has to be mites somewhere; I've never seen one but I'm treating her with poultry dust on Monday. I'll give her chest 2 days to heal from the injection spots which aren't visible anyway.

 

[Michael Apple]

Lack of red blood cells will weaken the immune system. Antibiotics alone may fight infection, but red blood cell production will strengthen the bird. Red blood cells transport oxygen so that nutrients can be used as energy. They are manufactured in the bone marrow consisting of vitamin B-12, iron, protein etc. Red blood cells produced live 35 days then goes through the spleen where iron is salvaged and is formed again in the marrow. This is a circular rebuilding process, and since some iron is lost in the process of rebuilding, where it is passed through droppings, it must be replenished by nutrients. This is why supplementation is important not just on a regular basis, but during and after periods of stress. Stress can inhibit the filters such as the liver where fatty deposits prevent the bird from cleaning out its system. Lack of B vitamins and lack of hydration make stress and disease hard to conquer. I'd supplement daily with vitamins-electrolytes in water. Syringe or tube feed the bird if you have to. Lewerstim is a helpful product that can be used for one day to kick start things: http://www.jedds.com/-strse-1132/LEWERSTIM-100-ml-(Medpet)/Detail.bok

After that, supplement daily with vitamin-electrolyte powder in waterers. This should also increase the bird's appetite.

 

[Michael Apple]

The vet doesn't tell me the type of infection.

Did you ask? The vet should have if he/she knows.

I took her to an avian vet, she has 25 years experience treating birds and countless chickens.

I know vets that practiced longer than that and shorter than that. Length of time is not always an indication of knowledge.


She originally prescribed oral antibiotics, but my chicken was refusing them and then we changed to the injections.

That's understandable but preventing dehydration is top priority, which is why syringe/tube feeding is often practiced.

I just went out there and gave her the shot, she was very calm and it went well.

Only two days left of the injections, I can't wait for them to be over.

Rotating sites of injection help reduce irritation, i.e. left side of breast muscle one day, right side the next.

As for the anemia, she thinks its the bacterial infection causing that. A microscope feather analysis showed no eggs or mites.

Amoxocillin is a very effective, broad spectrum antibiotic against bacterial infections. Enrofloxacin (Baytri) is too. I've never seen an allergic reaction/ irritation to Amoxicillin and used it a number of times over the years.

Her skin is very red, there has to be mites somewhere; I've never seen one but I'm treating her with poultry dust on Monday. I'll give her chest 2 days to heal from the injection spots which aren't visible anyway.

You said the analysis showed no mites. If you don't see any, there's no reason to dust. The best thing you can do in addition to finishing the antibiotics is what i mentioned in the previous post. good luck to you and your hen. I hope she has a full recovery.

 

[FLSwampStomer]

I went out there tonight with the flash light and saw a lot of mites on her, extremely small you pretty much need a magnifying glass to see them.

I read online that this can cause a rise in white blood cell counts and I know it causes Anemia.

I thought I got rid of them with a dawn bath and DE, apparently not.


5 days of antibiotics, and now I don't think it's bacterial at all.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

You need to take your flashlight and look for red or common fowl or chicken mites in the dead of night. Don't just look on you chicken but look on and in the nests, roost, and frame and cracks of the coop.

The red fowl mites suck blood so yes your chickens will be anemic if their feeding 1000s of red mites every night.

There is no time like tonight to do it either.

 

[Michael Apple]

I went out there tonight with the flash light and saw a lot of mites on her, extremely small you pretty much need a magnifying glass to see them.

I read online that this can cause a rise in white blood cell counts and I know it causes Anemia.

I thought I got rid of them with a dawn bath and DE, apparently not.

I think tomorrow I'll stop using the antibiotics - only 3 doses left and I'll bathe her again and clean the coop, I bought poultry dust today too.

5 days of antibiotics, and now I don't think it's bacterial at all.

Get a good premise insecticide like Ravap EC or Atroban EC. Treat the birds by dusting them with Sevin or using a spray using label directions on those I just mentioned. Move birds so they don't have access to the coop. Clean out the coop, removing all litter, dry droppings, and dust from floors and nests. I prefer to disinfect coop premises before treating for mites, but that is up to you. Following label instructions and health precautions, mix product in a garden sprayer. Spray ceiling, walls, all sides of roosts, nests, floors until runoff. Leave windows/doors open to let dry. Then add some new shavings, and the birds can now have access to the coop again. I do this about every 3-4 months and since never have mite/lice problems.