2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[JM]

Hi Everyone

 

Has anyone got any tips about giving a chicken Nutridrops - Winnie has been looking sorry for herself the last 2 days. She was attacked by a dog a couple of weeks ago, which plucked half of her tail feathers away. She's now regrowing those, but it looks like she's just started a moult. I read Barbara's bit on the Newsletter and thought I would try the Nutridrops.

 

Well I did try - and got more on me than in her beak - with both of us stressed as well. How do you open a chicken's beak to put drops in??

 

(It stinks as well - I can still smell it on my hands - even though I've washed them loads of times since!! - note to self - wear gloves next time!!)

 

Thanks

 

Jill

Edited October 16, 2010 by Guest

[Roobaloo]

I had to give two of my girls some medicine via a small syringe into her mouth. I gave up with trying to open their beaks, it was just causing too much stress and as they were both poorly, it was the last thing I wanted!!

 

What did work though was standing them up on a bench/work surface so they were between waist and arm pit height, so I could put one arm over her then hold her against my side...this meant she couldn't go forwards, backwards or flap...I then lightly dropped (literally individual droplets of fluid) onto the side of her beak, just above her 'mouth/lip' (as it were!) I found this trickled into her mouth and after two or three drops, they'd swallow!

[The Dogmother]

You need two people... one to hold the chicken and her head, the other to prise her beak open with their fingernail. Tilt her head backwards and drip it slowly into her beak, stopping to let her swallow each time.

 

It's really easy when you do it properly and they seem to like the taste of Nutri-drops... well mine did anyway.

[Redwing]

I rest the hen in the crook of my left elbow against my body then I use my left hand to squeeze gently either side of the beak, they open their beak and I put the tip of a finger in to keep it open (if you have ever put a bridle on a horse the movement is similar but obviously you dont rest the horse in the crook of your arm )

 

I use my free right hand to administer the drops, I use a slim 1ml syringe rather than the chunky pipette that the srops come with (no needle on that syringe obviously..)

[Egluntyne]

I'd wrap her in a towel to stop any flapping. I always hold a hen between my knees if I'm dosing them up, leaving both hands free.

[JM]

Thanks everyone - I'll try again today (but I'll wear gloves as my hands still smell of Nutridrops ).

 

I gave them all warm pellet porridge with oats and tuna in this morning and they all wolfed it down - with Winnie standing in the middle of the 2 bowls tucking into both! (So her appetite isn't affected)

 

Thanks again

 

Jill

[beach chick]

I think thinking about is worse than doing it actually... once you've got the hang of it its much easier than you think!

[JM]

Well she was still not right this morning, so I took her to the vet.

 

He gave her a good examination and she's got a big abcess in her abdomen - he thinks as a result of the dog attack the other weekend. She was really good as he had a good feel around - he had her on her back and as he was prodding, she was nodding off! The lump was big - about the size of a tangerine, so no wonder she was not happy! He drew a lot of liquid off, then gave her some antibiotics. I washed her mucky bum when we got back, and she's now in a cat box in the shed at the moment drying off and recovering.

 

At the moment, she's having a snooze after tucking into some food and water. Her eyes are still bright, and her wattles and comb are red, but I need to take her back on Monday to have another check.

 

I don't know whether to put her back in with the others now, or keep her separate until Monday evening. After the dog attack, I put her in the cat box in the cube so they could all see each other, so maybe I'll do that.

 

Jill

[Auntie FiFi]

Hello! Thank goodness she is on the mend at last! Great news. I just thought you may be interested to know - I have a chicken who is poorly and I'm giving her antibiotics at the mo. I have, in the past, used a syringe to syringe it into their beaks but I felt so sorry for this chicken (and she's quite a lot larger than the other!) so I have s"Ooops, word censored!"ed out the insides of a grape and piece of sweetcorn and syringed the liquid anitbiotic in. She then eats them very readily! It does take a while to get the full dose in, but it is very calm and she thinks she's having a lovely treat. Worth a go for any medication I think! Hope all goes well x