Worming a sick bird - what worming product is best?

[alicia-TX]

My original thread is here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/help-hen-started-as-lethagic-and-getting-worse.1456849/

The lady I bought my chickens from thinks it might be internal parasites and she anemic. I should note her comb is bright red.

She says to give Ivermectin under the skin. That is helpful but mild.

I have read conflicting things here.

For a sick bird is that what I should give today? She turned a corner yesterday and is a tad bit improved and I do not want to damage that.

IF it is internal parasites what is my most effective and safest option? Also she is not drinking so I would have to give to her orally with a syringe OR a shot

 

[alicia-TX]

Bump

 

[Mutchi]

Worming, I would put some in their water to get the whole flock to deworm

 

[alicia-TX]

What kind? Safegaurd?

 

[Mutchi]

I don't know about that part...I haven't really dewormed chickens before but you can look online.

 

[alicia-TX]

Safeguard may not work because she isnt drinking water

 

[HawaiiCoyote]

I use safeguard goat dewormer, (although I don't have the per pound dosage off hand)
you will need to syringe feed it to her and the rest of your flock. Tube feeding should work too, although I have never done it that way.

 

[alicia-TX]

I found 1/4 ml per pound of body weight for Safeguard. I hope that is correct for the goat formula.

 

[alicia-TX]

Just wanted to post an update.

She turned a corner between Wednesday night/Thursday morning. She perked up a bit and seemed less tired. She seems to be improving more today. She is getting less tolerant of me holding her for giving oral stuff like water and drench.

Her crop is still somewhat squishy even though she has barely eaten in two days. I will attack that next once she has improved more. Or that may correct itself once I get the root cause cleared up.

I made her some chick starter mash today and presented it to her at bedtime. She ate pretty aggressively so her appetite is coming back. I didnt allow her a lot of it since she has barely eaten in the past 3 days. I dont want her to eat too much too fast.

I wormed her today at the advice of the breeder. Maybe this was all just an internal parasite. Too early to say.

I think catching it early (I noticed very quickly something was off with her and I did not ignore it), giving antibiotics in case it was yolk peritonitis or she cracked one inside her and separating her helped a lot plus probably a lot of luck.

I read here once that you should walk your flock at least a couple times a day to note any changes. I am pretty good about that although there is occasionally a day I do not get out there until they go to bed (I still go out and count them). I believe that is some of the best advice that has been given.

Walk your flock. Dont ignore your gut.

As of now I am going to continue to keep this girl in a kennel in the garage and watch her. I am hoping she continues to improve. I hope there are no adverse reactions during the deworming process. That is my next concern for her.

I do still have an appointment with an avian vet next week.

 

[coach723]

Did you worm her with the Safeguard? Or just the ivermectin?
Some parasites are becoming resistant to ivermectin, so the Safeguard would be a better choice. If she seems to be doing better and you have an appointment, I would wait and get a fecal done before treating, to make sure it's really an issue or not. At 2 years old it could also be a reproductive problem, they are not uncommon. That could be infection, a cancer, internal laying, etc. The antibiotics may have knocked that back, but some of them will recur and are not very responsive to treatment. Hopefully the vet will be able to help and ID what is going on. Both parasite problems and reproductive problems can also present with crop problems as a symptom, since they can slow or stop digestion if advanced enough. Let us know how she does, and what the vet says.
Most birds like their feed made into a mash, mixed with some water. Since she's having trouble emptying her crop, I would only feed her water soluble foods, like her feed. Nothing fibery (like greens).