Unsecure chicken perches

[LittleOwl]

I have just been to the vet's and am confused and I wondered if anyone had any advice...sorry this is so long.

 

5 weeks ago Sybil went to the vet after a couple of weeks of sneezing, and it suddenly becoming a rattly chest. He prescribed Baytril for a week, then an extra week when she wasn't quite right yet. He believed she wasn't contagious as she had had the mild symptoms for so long that the others would have picked them up by now, and he didn't want her isolated as it would stress her and maybe make her worse. She is ok now....some days she rattles a bit but it's very wet days - just one of those chooks I think.

 

Treacle has had little sneezes for 4 days or so, and last night I noticed a rattle. I have been putting Citricidal in the water for a couple of weeks, just in case Sybil needed it. I called the vet this morning and left a message with reception to explain one of my chickens had similar symptoms to Sybil, and could he prescribe some Baytril without seeing her. I went to the surgery later, and was given Tiamvet 12.5% solution by the Receptionist, and told to put it in 200ml of drinking water for 5 days. Turns out a different vet had dealt with my query than the one who saw Sybil. I pointed out that this meant Treacle had to be isolated so she could drink the water, so did they think that's what I should do, and instead was given 10 times as much to put in the drinking water they all had. I was told it wouldn't harm them. The receptionist was very hassled as there was a queue and she had to make the prescription up again. I asked what it was, an antibiotic, anti-inflammatory etc, and she said she didn't know. I asked why the vet was prescribing this instead of Baytril and she said "because she is" I asked if I could talk to the vet and she said No, she was on her way out. She may call me tomorrow if she has time.

 

So, in the absence of getting any answers out of them, what should I do? Do you think it's just worth giving it to them all and that would cover the others if it were to be catching? No one else has any signs of being poorly. Or wait a day or two to see if it eases? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Christian]

Erm....by no means a vet but a quick google search revealed -

 

'For the treatment, prevention and control of swine dysentery......'

 

Not sure what I would do to be honest. Maybe best to speak to the vet that first treated Sybil. If she is still rattly, then bring her indoors and keep her warm. Hens do benefit from addition warmth when poorly, as most of their energy is used to keep their body temperature up. At least then she stands a chance of recovery.

 

Good luck.

 

edited to add -

 

Just found out it is also used to 'combat the main infectious diseases in modern poultry farming', so looks like a broad spec treatment.

[Chucky Mama]

It is sometimes used by vets for chickens - not licensed like Baytril. You could give to to all of them but then you wouldn't really be able to eat any eggs that they produce. The long and short of it is that the prescribing vet should tell you exactly how you should use it - it is all part of providing a prescription.