Solitary chicken - need advice

[redfrock]

Just need my mind putting at ease really. 2 of my new girls have had chest infections. Bought them Sunday, straight to the vet Monday as they sounded really gurgly when they breathed and I was sure it was coming from their chests. I was spot on and the vet said they had chest infections. She gave me a large pot of the antibiotic Aureomycin which I had to dissolve in their water for 5 days. I read up on it and you can actually dose for 5 - 7 days, so I have continued with it over the weekend.

 

The chest rattle has definitely gone - when I put them to my ear their sounds clear. However they are still very snotty. Their noses aren't actually running, they just sound snotty when they are breathing. The Barnvelder seems to have shaken it off much better than the Indian Game but something is definitely still amiss with them both. They are both happy in themselves though - tails up, active, apart from the odd power nap (which i know is perfectly normal when they are young), bright and alert. They are drinking and eating really well. TBH if it wasn't for their noses you wouldn't realise something was amiss. Their eyes are also bright and clear and they have a good colour to them. I am halfway through their Flubenvet course - and have been surprised to find no beansprouts in their poo as I was convinced they would this type of worm given where they came from. The other 3 don;t seem to have caught their germs although they have been on the same anti-biotic so maybe it has prevented it.

 

I know citricidal is highly thought of however tomorrow is their first day back on normal water so I am putting them on super strength Lifeguard which I swear by.

 

I think I am possibly panicking as Andy has gone away for yet another week with work today and anything untoward always happens when he is away. I am certain the Barnvelder is going to pull through this. She seems ever so strong, but I just have a bad feeling about the Game girl and I can;t put my finger on why.

 

I am going to call the vet tomorrow. I think I will ask her if she can get hold of some soluble Tylan and give that a go.

 

What do you think? Does it sound like I am being a bit of a worrier?

[Christian]

I don't blame you for worrying redfrock!

 

I think the citricidal is a good idea. Get them to drink plenty of water too, by adding a small amount of honey. Mine seem to drink a lot more when i sweeten it Hopefully it will flush out the cold.

 

Good that the chest rattle has gone and hopefully this is the tail end of it.

 

Hope they are both better soon.

[Egluntyne]

I agree, sounds as if the antibiotics have done the trick.

 

Citricidal should help too. I rate it highly.

 

Have you complained to whoever sold the hens to you?

[The Dogmother]

Sounds like you've knocked it on the head Claire, just keep an eye on them and keep checking their chests for any bubbling noises.

 

Dosing them up with citricidal/lifeguard/garlic is what I would do.

[redfrock]

Popped into the vet on the way back from an appointment today. She was out but I left a message and asked if soluble Tylan might be a solution (no pun intended!). She must have agreed as they had ordered me some when I rung back late this afternoon. Hopefully this will sort out the last of the germs. Should be ready for me to collect tomorrow afternoon, so I shall start dosing them from Wednesday. Meanwhile they are drinking their super strength lifeguard, which can only be a good thing and having garlic in with their premixed Marriages with Flubenvet. At this rate they will be rattling - in a good way!

 

Meanwhile my credit card has melted somewhat because of all this treatment - and that is with a very reasonable vet who gives us a discount as well.

 

I can't even be bothered to call the supplier as I know I will get short sharp shrift as he tried to suggest we were risking contaminating his flock when in one of the runs helping to catch one of the chickens!

 

I have already seen an improvement in the girls in the week since we got them - give it another few weeks and hopefully they will be unrecognisable, in the nicest possible way. Meanwhile integration is delayed even longer. Hope my Orp and Barnvelder don't have a sudden growth spurt as I need to keep them in the eglu for a bit longer than planned because of this

[redfrock]

and this morning all 5 of them are sneezing

 

I hope the Tylan knocks this on the head

[The Dogmother]

It should Claire, it's the one that vets rely on if Baytril doesn't work. I've found it to be effective.

 

You're doing all the right things, let's just hope that it doesn't turn cold again.

[redfrock]

Hope you are right Clare. My Indian and barnvelder have really perked up today. The Aracauna and the Silky have gone downhill. I'm particularly worried about the silky. She is sneezing heavily and is quite subdued compared to normal. To be gross she just sneezed and snot flew out of her nose, but then I guess that happens with humans too! It seemed clear as it shot down the run! Just a few hours to go and I should have them on the Tylan

[The Dogmother]

For the quickest response to antibiotics, you can get an injectable version. If your vet will show you how to inject, you can do ti at home.

 

Here's hoping that she responds quickly.

[redfrock]

the vet doesn't think my gorgeous silkie will make it. We discussed taking her down there for a jab but she felt that the journey and being picked up (they are very new so not tamed yet) would distress her too much and just remove any chances she may have. I put some of the tylan water on a spoon for her and tried to get her to drink and to eat but she refused everything including corn and meal worms. Andy is away until very late Friday night, the weather is ghastly and I am dreading the morning. I have made the decision to leave her in the eglu with the others as I think seperating her will distress her too much and at least she is warm and toasty in there with the others.

 

I am so angry. I have only had them 9 days and I feel so useless I am so glad I have been able to quarantine them as it should mean my big girls will be ok

Edited March 4, 2009 by Guest

[Egluntyne]

Sorry to hear about this downturn, Redwing.

 

I would complain to the seller! Cheeky beggar suggesting that you would contaminate his flock when all the while he is palming of sick hens onto unsuspecting folk.

 

I hope things are better this morning.

[redfrock]

An update! Good and bad.

 

My bundle of fluff that is Tallulah (silky) is bouncing around as if nothing has happened and is now just sneezing. It is amazing

 

My Aracauna however seems to have gone down hill rapidly. I can only hope that she makes sure she drinks plenty today to get the Tylan into her. Maybe she will be a little miracle like my Silky and IG . At least she is out of the eglu so she is more likely to eat and drink. She has had a bit of a peck at the meal worms. I'll keep you posted

 

PS Egluntine - it must be too early in the morning! I'm Redfrock not Redwing but I'll forgive you as will they I'm sure

[The Dogmother]

Good news Claire, but a shame about the Araucana, I hope that she picks up.

 

I really would take up the issue with the supplier again and look at reporting them too; chest infections like this can seriously affect their laying ability later on. One of my old girls had mycoplasma and I nursed her, injecting 4 times a day as per the vet's instructions, she pulled through and lasted another 3 years but was never strong and laid very poor quality eggs for the rest of her life.

 

It always happens when the OH is away - it's the rules! I just wish that I lived nearer so that i could help you out

 

"The poultry pathogen Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) infects about 90% of the nations' laying chickens. MG is known to reduce egg production by as much as 15.9 eggs per hen over a typical 45 week laying cycle which corresponds to an economic loss of about $140 million annually within the table egg sector alone. This study was conducted to determine the impact of the age of exposure (10, 22 or 45 weeks of age) on various blood parameters of the chicken including hematocrit, plasma protein, serum cholesterol, triglycerides and calcium. Basically, all parameters tended to be higher over the course of the study implying that presence of the organism impairs egg production and reflects this in the blood concentration of the various components normally used in egg and eggshell formation."

[chelsea]

just caught up with this thread, sorry.

 

Hope all your chooks are back to full health soon!

[Egluntyne]

PS Egluntine - it must be too early in the morning! I'm Redfrock not Redwing but I'll forgive you as will they I'm sure

Oops. Typing without my contact lenses in...always a mistake.

[redfrock]

a quick update. All the girls are still with me and improving day by day . The Aracauna still has a snotty nose but is eating again and showing real interest in things. She loved free ranging this weekend and was sunbathing and digging her own dustbath

 

They are also riddled with lice so I have treated them with Panomec which is the same as Ivomec Epriwhatnot. The only thing is I am confused about the when the second treatment is due. I have read that it is 3 days / 10 days / 2 wks / 3 wks . I'm confused

 

Thank goodness they are still in quarantine

[The Dogmother]

Not lice as well!

 

The dosage I was recommended was for two doses 1 week apart. Try spraying them with the Johnson's ant-mite spray too. Works a treat.

 

*these prodcuts are not licenced for use on poultry in the UK*

[Egluntyne]

Another unwanted extra from the breeder? What a guy.