Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[urbanchick]

Can anyone give me some tips please? I have a dropper but have made an attempt which was disastrous and it ended up all over my arm. I'm unlikely to have anyone on hand to help, so is it possible to do it single handedly? She wouldn't even open her beak for long enough.

[Egluntyne]

I would use a syringe if you can. I find it easier that way. You can get them in the baby section of the supermarket, for dosing sick toddlers.

 

I'd wrap her firmly in an old towel, so that she can't flap.

 

I have developed a technique of holding them between my knees, which frees both hands nicely - one for holding her head and the other for squirting the medicine gently into her mouth.

 

I have a houseful of menfolk, but they are all useless when it comes to anything like this, so I have had to find a way to work round it.

 

A tip from my vet was to mix the Baytril with Ribena, as it is rather unpleasant tasting. Apparently.

[Redwing]

I put the hen in the crook of my arm, use the same hand to in the head against my shoulder and get the beak open I use a finger to keep the beak open then use my free hand to drop the baytril in using a syringe

[Guest]

we always ask for baytril in tablet form for this very reason. The time we had the liquid stuff we soaked a bit of bread in it and than opened her beak and popped the bread in.

[urbanchick]

Thank you, I've tried the bread option and that has worked so will probably use this method. Is there any reason why I shouldn't mix it with bread? It's just too tricky to do it with a syringe and no extra help. What do you do with the tablets, do they have to swallow them whole?

[Guest]

there's no reason you can't use bread, I asked the vet and they said it was fine. I just find the tablets easier.

 

The tablets are easier to get down their throat, just open the beak, pop it on the back of their tongue and rub their throat to make them swallow. We usually hide the tablet in a bit of bread or a raisin. The dose will usually be 1/2 a tablet but they're fairly easy to cut in half.

[Redwing]

The bread idea is great thanks Poet

[Guest]

The bread idea is great thanks Poet

 

you're welcome xxxx