Treating chicken with cold/flu symptoms?

[cmorg]

I have a poland bantam hen who hasn't been looking too well for a while now, she doesn't move a lot, just stands around looking very lethargic. Doesn't care if you touch her but then again she always liked being given fuss anyway so that doesn't help. She has been kinda quiet like this for a few weeks now.

She was out all day in the rain a few days ago and now it looks like she has a cold, she sounds like a bunged up person would every time she breathes, and she sneezes often.

What can I do to help her? I don't want to goto the vet because he will charge a lot and he doesn't even know anything about chickens so he will just give her an antibiotic jab (like he always does for everything when I bring a chicken in).

 

[The Chickens' Maid]

bump

 

[ich-knut]

If she was my chicken I would give her aureomycin to prevent respiratory infection and keep her around heat lamp. Give her clean water, food with vitamin, and some yogurt. Every now and then I wipe off her nostrils with tissue. And then I'd pray that she will fight it off.

 

[sammi]

you say she wasn't well before getting wet and chilled.
it's obvious that now, she has a respiratory illness on top of whatever else might be going on.
get some Tylan 50 injectable..and some syringes..
you can get it at most farm/feed/livestock supply stores in the LIVESTOCK section.
it isn't expensive and keeps well in the refrigerator for 1 year..check the expiration date.
pm me for more instructions.
in the meantime, put her in a safe warm draft free place. in the house if possible.
it's important she is kept warm with food and water.

what ALL do you feed them?
has she been wormed? if so when? and what was used?
has she been treated for mites?
when did she last lay an egg?
how old is she?
is she able to stand and walk?
what sort of bedding do you use? has it been changed and cleaned recently?
describe her droppings..now, and before she got wet..color and consistency.

1...check the crop...best to do at roost time..it should feel full.
recheck in the morning before she eats..it should feel empty or flat.
feel for any lump, doughy mass, or grainy feeling.
or any sour odor.
2...check the vent for an drainage..and check belly/vent area for any swelling or heat.
3...check her leg joints for any heat or swelling, or raised scales or crust.
check feet..including bottoms and between toes for any sores, scabs, raised lesions, or any heat or swelling.

try and get some poultry vitamins.
you can use Poly-vi-sol liquid baby vitamins, Enfamil brand if possible..NO IRON. give 2 drops on beak once a day.

try and make up this mixture:
the amounts are for 3 feedings for 1 day..give for 5 days along with usual layer feed.

1 cooked egg yolk
drizzle of honey (if you don't have honey, a little unsweetened or baby applesauce)
2 tablespoons plain yogurt
3-4 tablespoons of regular oatmeal

hope this helps.
will wait for your reply.

 

[callen0912]

you say she wasn't well before getting wet and chilled.

it's obvious that now, she has a respiratory illness  on top of whatever else might be going on.

get some Tylan 50 injectable..and some syringes..

you can get it at most farm/feed/livestock supply stores in the LIVESTOCK section.

it isn't expensive and keeps well in the refrigerator for  1 year..check the expiration date.

pm me for more instructions.

in the meantime, put her in a safe warm draft free  place. in the house if possible.

it's important she is kept warm with food and water.


what ALL do you feed them?

has she been wormed? if so when? and what was used?

has she been treated for mites?

when did she last lay an egg?

how old is she?

is she able to stand and walk?

what sort of bedding do you use? has it been changed and cleaned recently?
describe her droppings..now, and before she got wet..color and consistency.


1...check  the crop...best to do at roost time..it should feel full.

recheck in the morning before she eats..it should feel empty or flat.

feel for any lump, doughy mass, or grainy feeling.

or any sour odor.

2...check the vent for an drainage..and check belly/vent area for any swelling or heat.

3...check her leg joints for  any heat or swelling, or raised scales or crust.

check feet..including bottoms and between toes for any sores, scabs, raised lesions, or any heat or swelling.


try and get some poultry  vitamins.

you can use Poly-vi-sol liquid baby vitamins, Enfamil brand if possible..NO IRON.  give 2 drops on beak once a day.


try and make up this mixture:

the amounts are for 3 feedings for 1 day..give for 5 days along with usual layer feed.


1 cooked egg yolk

drizzle of honey  (if you don't have honey, a little unsweetened or baby applesauce)

2 tablespoons plain yogurt

3-4 tablespoons of regular oatmeal


hope this helps.

will wait for your reply.

I realize this is an old reply but I am dealing with the same thing in a couple of my chickens and would like to privately talk with you if that's ok.