Single hen

[PeckyBeak]

Yesterday Rhoda was wobbly on her feet, making a purring rattling sound when she breathed and not wanting to eat nor driink. She had been a bit sneezy for a couple of weeks and I had given them citricidal in the water.

For a couple of weeks she had been gaping so I gave them Flubenvet 2 & half weeks ago.

When we found she had fallen over, we took her to the emergency vet. He gave her an injection of Baytrill and Baytrill tablets for the next 4 days.

He thought she may have a respiratory infection and possibly fluid in her lungs.

She picked up a bit and thank God she was alive this morning.

The vet is not chicken familier but was the only one who would see us on a Sunday.

She is still gaping and I am worried sick. Should I give her more Flubenvet or could the gaping be part of her respiratory problem. or is the respiratory problem part of the gapeworm symptoms.

Also, can I give Flubenvet with Baytrill.

I dont know if the Flubenvet worked and dont know what I should be looking for in the poo to tell. Are there any pictures of all the different poos anywhere?

I have given her grapes to try to get water down her, a bit of tuna in water and sweetcorn.

Also, how good is Baytrill and what does it do?

Is there anything else I should be doing?

Sorry to go on but I love them all so much.

[Egluntyne]

Hmmmm. Did you discuss gapeworm with the vet?

 

The dosage of Flubenvet for gapeworm is double the usual dose and there is an egg withdrawal period.

 

If she were mine, I would finish the course of antibiotics before embarking on any other treatment.

[PeckyBeak]

Thanks Eglutine, I did mention the gapeworm but he didn't seem to know if it might be that or not. Is there an easy way of telling?

The Flubenvet I used was the newish small pack 60g, which is 5% Flubendazole rather than the 2.5% one, (the old big pack), the instructions say that it treats gapeworm,no double dose is mentioned.

Rhoda has eaten a bit of seed this pm and tried her best to mix with the others, but her comb is very pale and her breathing is still rattling, and she is still gaping.

Not sure whether to stick with the Baytril, I have 2 days left or to try to find a more chicken knowledgable vet

But dare I wait?

[chelsea]

Sorry to hear your hen is poorly.

 

I would definitely stick with the Baytril and you might even need some more. Baytril is very good at fighting infection so once you have finished this course I would contact the vet again to see if any more is required. Respiratory infections in hens can be very tricky at treating so they always need to be dealt with by a vet.

 

Let us know how she gets along.

[sandyhas3chucks]

and you might need a different antibiotic deprnding on What the bacteria is. there are it seems a lot that are resistant to Batytril.

Sorry all you Baytril fans but I have spent hours researching due to my poorly chook. It is apparently due to it's over use (in all species including us) I think it has been banned in USA now.

I would do as you are with getting fluid in her, even dribble some in her beak. Don't stop the Baytril it might be helping even till you get to see a chickeny vet. You might like to ring around if you are really wried still & see if you can find another practice with someone knowledgable. My eperience with vets & dogs & thgey won't mind you going else where (if that is a worry to you) good luck & keep us posted.

old post you might find informative from the health section. here. viewtopic.php?f=11&t=5011&start=0

[chelsea]

Sorry all you Baytril fans but I have spent hours researching due to my poorly chook. It is apparently due to it's over use. I think it has been banned in USA now.

 

Cripes! I did not know this Sandy. Going to read up on this further. Touch wood it has always worked for us.

[sandyhas3chucks]

Will work on the right thing... Also it seems that there are regional variations to the resistance. ie.Same bacteria on your girls it will work. But maybe mine or someone elses it is resistant,

Litterally just heard from Libby at Retfords that they routinely test samples with approx 15 different antibiotics to try to find the Best one for the relevant bacteria.

Just goes to show that there IS hope if one hasn't worked then another May !

[Egluntyne]

She is probably 'gaping' because of the chest infection. I would keep going with the antibiotics, keep her warm and hydrated and hopefully there should be an improvement in a few days.

[Groovychook]

Hope Rhoda's okay