Tylan 50 for respiratory problems

[izziebean]

So.. I went back down and one of the chickens had knocked over that little waterer.. soaking the nesting box area. I took all the shavings out and cleaned out the area. As I was cleaning up, Happy was holding up her left leg. I had given the shot in the left breast and I knew it might be sore. She was not putting any pressure on the leg. I was thinking that the medicine might be stuck in the area if she didn't move around so I got out some treats and she did go for a few. When I was done, Merebear was up in the nesting area with her head turned completely against the wall. With tears running down my cheeks, I said goodbye. Happy had stopped moving and was really struggling to breathe or walk. I said my goodbye to her too. Sobbing, I came upstairs. About an hour later, I went back down with a box thinking the end had happened. I found happy in the middle of the coop eating normal food and Merebear had just laid an egg. .................................. She hasn't laid in a couple of weeks. Her shell was thin and the end was a bit broken. I'll need a way to get some oyster shells in her?

So I went ahead and dosed the entire flock with shots.. even the 8 week old chicks because one of them was lethargic. For a while tonight, they seemed 'okay'. I can tell Happy and Mere are still struggling and they might not make it through the night. We did play for a bit. I just left and Mere and Happy were snuggling together in a corner of the coop sleeping. For the first time in a while, I have a bit of hope.

If this doesn't work, they've tried LS-50. Is there any other medication to try for trouble breathing or...... **sigh** I wish the autopsy report would come back.

 

[izziebean]

By the way, my profile picture is of happy when she was less than two weeks old. Such a cute little thing.

 

[casportpony]

When one of mine has shell/laying problems Igive them calcium gluconate fat 0.2ml per pound orally once or twice a day for a couple of days. Refrigerate after opening. Tractor Supply carries it:


As for other antibiotics, yes, there are others that you could try. One that I use is Baytril, but it's banned for use in poultry, so that's something to think about before giving it. Of course Baytril will not work if what they have is viral, and it would probably make a fungal infection worse.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

How warm is the room they are in?

-Kathy

 

[izziebean]

They are in the garage. I think it's probably about 50-60 degrees. I'll take a thermometer down to check.

Do you put that calcium gluconate fat in their water or do you feed them individually?

 

[casportpony]

They are in the garage.   I think it's probably about 50-60 degrees.  I'll take a thermometer down to check. 

Do you put that calcium gluconate fat in their water or do you feed them individually? 

You might want to see what you can do to make it warmer for them. The temp I shoot for with the sick ones is 80-85 degrees.

I give the calcium orally or by injection under the skin.

-Kathy

 

[izziebean]

Where would the injection be? The breast area? Can I do that at the same time (different needle) as the Tylan?

The Tylan seems to be really helping. The roosters are crowing louder than they have in days. Happy is running around the coop looking for any extra treats. This is the same chicken that I have watched sit still for a week, hunched over, getting sicker and sicker. I can tell that breathing is still an issue as the sides of her neck draw up a bit when she breathes. Still though, I haven't seen her run to me in days. I love her little waddle when she runs.

Most places I've seen say to give the Tylan for 3 days, but some say 5. Is this sort of a judgement call depending on how they are feeling? I don't want to overmedicate but I don't want to stop too soon either.

80 degrees? This is for full grown birds? Mine are about 8 months old. I have a little heater that I could set up.. or maybe I could hang a heat lamp on one side of the coop. They could go near if they were too cold?

 

[casportpony]

I would do the Tylan for at least one day past them looking normal. The calcium injections I give are under the skin, but I also give it orally? Do they live in the garage normally? If they do, they might also need some D3.

Kathy

 

[casportpony]

And yes for 80 degrees and adults. Younger ones the temp may need to be even warmer.

-Kathy

 

[izziebean]

Usually it's just nights in the garage. They free range during the day, with limits. The outdoor coop.. is.. almost finished. The roof is the next step. I switched to building the 4' x 8' coop in the garage when it started getting cold. It was easier since it didn't have to be as 'predator proof' as the outside one. It was never my intention to keep chickens in the garage but for now, it's what I have. The last couple of days are the first ones that I haven't let them out at all. The temps are just too low and now they are getting sick. I am fearful that I may have caused some sort of pneumonia to run through the flock by doing it this way. I was careful to open the garage door to level out the temperatures before taking them outside. They seemed to enjoy their outside time so I didn't see it as a problem. Today, snowstorm. Our first one just started a couple of hours ago. The good news is that the garage is warm. I did hang the heat lamp in the middle of the room which is giving heat to both sides of the coop. The guys have 3' by 4' part of the coop. The hens have the rest plus nesting box room. I will probably need to supplement with D3. Should I just add that to the water?

Merebear, the mottled houdan, was looking better, but then started looking bad a bit ago. I gave her another shot, but I don't have much hope. Happy was doing good and was even feisty when I gave her a shot, but now she is sleepy again which worries me. I'm hoping it is just the meds. The roosters are looking better. I do not see any snot or any other signs. Merebear I think laid another egg earlier. She looks so tired. I kind of feel bad giving her meds because she looks as if she has had enough. I was going to look up how to push fluids, but she was drinking on her own when I last saw her.

Bunny, my little white silkie hen, who is consistently laying and is the sweetest thing ever, may have an impacted crop. I felt a huge lump yesterday when I went to give her a shot. Since it was late in the day, I thought I'd wait until morning to make sure. The lump was still there, but smaller (more than half in size). I brought her up for a shot a bit ago and gently messaged the area to see if I could break up whatever was knotted up. I was able to get it down to a very small size.. maybe 'pea' sized. I didn't want to push. She has showed no signs of illness so.. AHHHHHHHH. Maybe I can't do this.

I was about to sell off a few of the flock to get it down to a good size for the winter. I have two beautiful buff silkies and a buff silkie roo that is such a cute little family. Dangerpants is the roo. The girls are Prissypants and Fancypants. But now I can't sell any of them until after the autopsy comes back. What a mess.

... and all of this might be a virus and I am just going to lose in the end.

Thank you for your help and continued support.