Vet put my hen with sour crop on antibiotics… should I/can I also give her monistat?

[ChickInnMama]

Yes, go ahead and worm the chickens. Not only will worms cause nutritional deficits but it can also cause blockages.

Worming is safe. It won't interfere with the antibiotic. Wormers mainly sedate the worms so they stop feeding in the intestines and then they are generally absorbed as "protein". However, with this hen, I suggest some precautions.

The day before you begin worming her, give her an electrolyte solution instead of plain water. One cup water with one teaspoon sugar and a pinch of salt and baking soda. This will stabilize her in the event she has a heavy worm load, which I suspect, and this will prevent her going into shock. Continue the electrolyte solution until you're finished worming her.

If there is a heavy worm load, she may need a heavy duty flush when worming is completed to flush the dead worms out so they don't form a blockage. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

Please stick to this thread and don't go starting a new one. I'll never find you to help you complete this treatment.

Ok thank you SO much!!

 

[Eggcessive]

Valbazen is what I use because it treats with one dose and repeating it in 10 days. Dosage is 0.5 ml or 1/2 ml for most 4-6 pound chickens given orally, and repeat after 10 days. But SafeGuard liquid goat wormer or the horse paste may be easier to find in feed stores. Dosage of that one is 0.25 ml or 1/4 ml per pound given orally for 5 straight days to treat all of the same worms as Valbazen treats.

 

[ChickInnMama]

Yes, go ahead and worm the chickens. Not only will worms cause nutritional deficits but it can also cause blockages.

Worming is safe. It won't interfere with the antibiotic. Wormers mainly sedate the worms so they stop feeding in the intestines and then they are generally absorbed as "protein". However, with this hen, I suggest some precautions.

The day before you begin worming her, give her an electrolyte solution instead of plain water. One cup water with one teaspoon sugar and a pinch of salt and baking soda. This will stabilize her in the event she has a heavy worm load, which I suspect, and this will prevent her going into shock. Continue the electrolyte solution until you're finished worming her.

If there is a heavy worm load, she may need a heavy duty flush when worming is completed to flush the dead worms out so they don't form a blockage. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

Please stick to this thread and don't go starting a new one. I'll never find you to help you complete this treatment.

I was able to find Valbazen locally (I couldn’t when I looked last week but it’s back in stock). So that’s just once the day I get it and then once again in 10 days if I remember right? I’m going off what I saw someone say on a thread. Should I do the electrolyte water for the full 10 days? thank you again! Do I need to keep her separate from her little flock mate the whole time? It’s just the two of them in that run now that our other little hen died. We have a second coop and run that has 5 in it also.

 

[ChickInnMama]

Valbazen is what I use because it treats with one dose and repeating it in 10 days. Dosage is 0.5 ml or 1/2 ml for most 4-6 pound chickens given orally, and repeat after 10 days. But SafeGuard liquid goat wormer or the horse paste may be easier to find in feed stores. Dosage of that one is 0.25 ml or 1/4 ml per pound given orally for 5 straight days to treat all of the same worms as Valbazen treats.

I found Valbazen today! I put in a pick up order at TSC they didn’t have it last week when I looked, so it must be back in stock! Thank you for the dosage! I’d rather do that one because it’s just once and then once more later verses every day. Thank you again SO much for taking time to help us! We really didn’t want to lose another hen

 

[ChickInnMama]

I found Valbazen today! I put in a pick up order at TSC they didn’t have it last week when I looked, so it must be back in stock! Thank you for the dosage! I’d rather do that one because it’s just once and then once more later verses every day. Thank you again SO much for taking time to help us! We really didn’t want to lose another hen

Sorry one more thing… some of my chickens are over 6 pounds… I’ll have to reweigh them but if I remember right from the spring they’re between 8-10 pounds. So do I double that and give them 1 ml? Thanks so much!

 

[azygous]

On the electrolyte solution, no, I would not give it for ten days straight. Instead, space it out so the hen gets it three times during the worming. And by all means let her stay with her pal. Separating chickens is not usually of any value unless they are contagious or have a condition where they might be injured by staying with their flock mates. The other hen may drink the electrolyte solution, too. Makes it simple and it can't hurt either one.

 

[ChickInnMama]

On the electrolyte solution, no, I would not give it for ten days straight. Instead, space it out so the hen gets it three times during the worming. And by all means let her stay with her pal. Separating chickens is not usually of any value unless they are contagious or have a condition where they might be injured by staying with their flock mates. The other hen may drink the electrolyte solution, too. Makes it simple and it can't hurt either one.

@azygous we did the Valbazen on Sunday morning and her crop is still not emptying, it’s not rock hard but it’s not emptying and it’s always pretty full. Is that normal? Will it just take longer for the dewormer to work or do you think I should do a molasses flush or a stool softener? Thanks so much!! She seems to be happy and eating and drinking thankfully

 

[azygous]

Glad to hear she's acting normally. We might try a flush later if the crop begins to fill up again and she begins to act off.

It's not unusual for a little bit to remain in the crop in the mornings following a crop issue. I suggest probiotics to restore good microbes in her system. The other chicken can have them too. Be sure they have grit. If she suddenly starts to stumble and act weak, give the electroylte solution immediately. Watch her poop. If she stops pooping, report back here right away.

 

[ChickInnMama]

Glad to hear she's acting normally. We might try a flush later if the crop begins to fill up again and she begins to act off.

It's not unusual for a little bit to remain in the crop in the mornings following a crop issue. I suggest probiotics to restore good microbes in her system. The other chicken can have them too. Be sure they have grit. If she suddenly starts to stumble and act weak, give the electroylte solution immediately. Watch her poop. If she stops pooping, report back here right away.

Okay thank you!! Her crop seems most hard first thing in the morning which I thought was weird? I’ll watch her poop (I clean the poop out their coops every day) and I was giving her electrolytes every day since Sunday (I hadn’t seen your reply ) and also probiotics in their water. Today I gave them just clean, fresh water (I’ve been changing their water daily). Thank you SO much for your help!

 

[azygous]

You can tell if a chicken's crop is bothering them. Your hen will extend her neck and swivel it like a cobra. You can help the crop by massaging it. Cuddle her on your lap and gently massage the hard lump with your finger tips until you feel it break up and leave the crop.

This should correct within a week. If the crop appears to be filling up again instead, then we will do an Epsom salt flush. You will need to tube it. Have you ever tubed a chicken? You will need a small animal tube feeding kit you can get from a vet or from Amazon. It would be best to get this if you haven't already got it, to be prepared.