Chicken bald back

[Luvachicken]

I don't understand clearly how the Baytril works when it is mixed in water.

So far, I'm not sure I have seen Myrtle drink any, so she may only have had what I managed to syringe into her yesterday - which was about 2mls.

If she isn't going to drink it herself how often should I be giving it in the syringe ?

The vet said to mix up 0.8ml Baytril to 100ml water, is the chicken meant to drink all that in one day, so therefore if she's not drinking it herself that needs syringing quite often.

Also, am I meant to mix up fresh Baytril/water every day ?

Last time one of my chickens had Baytril it was given neat, so this is new to me.

 

Thanks for any help

xx

Edited August 24, 2011 by Guest

[miller30]

Ive always had baytril that you just syringe straight into the birds aswell i prefer it as you know they are getting it sorry not much help leanne

[Luvachicken]

Thanks .I must admit I thought it would have been better neat but there we go......

[cavysqueak]

Have you tried mixing the Baytril with a bit of water & using that liquid to make up some layers mash? Obviously you then have the problem of making sure that the chicken eats all of it & the other chickens don't eat it!

 

I think that the ratio of the Baytril to the water is what does the job. So if the chicken drinks lots of water they are getting more of the Baytril, but it won't be a problem. Also vice versa, if the chicken isn't a big drinker then they are still getting the medicine in the right ratio for the water they drink.

 

We've only had to treat the whole flock, so its only ever been in their water. Although like you I am happier to have a tablet to crush into a bit of food & then they eat the food I've always found that it does the job. Even if you can only syringe a small bit into them I would think that its better than nothing.

 

I hope this helps & that your lady feels better soon XxX

[Luvachicken]

Thank you.

I did see her drink a little bit earlier but she has done nothing since. I think as it is warmer today I will get hubby to help me give her some more.

[Luvachicken]

Have you tried mixing the Baytril with a bit of water & using that liquid to make up some layers mash?

 

I only have layer pellets - can I still make mash with that - if so how do I do it ?

[cavysqueak]

I would think that you could crush the pellets, as I was under the impression that it is the same stuff. Or perhaps soak the pellets first for a bit & then crush? I would avoid hot water as I'm not sure if that would stop the Baytril from working.

 

Please be aware that this is all guesswork! Maybe have a try with one thing today & a different thing tomorrow?

[Chucky Mama]

I would give your prescribing vet a ring and see what they suggest. Part of the reason that these medications are only available through vets is the fact that they will provide you with any advice and back up that you might need when administering them.

[Mercedes55]

I would go along with Chucky Mama. Only the vet would really know other ways of administering it so they get the proper amount. I also prefer a med that you can give them directly using a syringe as at least you know they are actually getting it. We had our hens on soluble Tylan last week which we had to mix into their drinking water and just put fresh out each day. Have to say it didn't do much and they are all now on a different med that we are syringing into them. I know some people who put the meds on a little piece of bread and feed that to their hens, but not sure how good it is to give them bread. Sorry can't be more help but hope your girl is better soon.

[Luvachicken]

Thanks for the advice. I phoned the vets and "the chicken vet is in tomorrow" - typical.

Anyway, the nurse said it would be fine to give her it in the syringe every hour or so for today - as it's warm - and that the vet will give me a ring tomorrow afternoon. So, thats all I can do for now ........

[Mercedes55]

Was having a tidy up of the kitchen cupboard where I keep all things hen related and came across a bottle of Baytril that we hadn't even realised we still had

 

Had a look on the instructions and it was for 0.8ml to be given directly by syringe, that was the amount for an ex batt who weighs about 1kg. So I would think you are supposed to get the full amount into your girl.

 

We were also advised to give our girls something to get their tummies back to normal after antibiotics as I guess they have the same effect on their digestive systems as they do on ours. We bought some of that Beryl stuff, have no idea if it works or not but will use it all the same.

[Luvachicken]

Had a look on the instructions and it was for 0.8ml to be given directly by syringe, that was the amount for an ex batt who weighs about 1kg. So I would think you are supposed to get the full amount into your girl.

 

 

We bought some of that Beryl stuff, have no idea if it works or not but will use it all the same.

 

 

Does that mean Myrtle is really on the wrong amount or does that mean she should be drinking the whole 100ml in a day ?

 

Sorry to ask but what is the Beryl stuff ?

I'm willing to give anything a try

 

She hasn't eaten anything today but I have managed to get some syringefuls in today. But I'm not sure if she had a runny eye today. She really does look and sound like someone who has a really bad cold.

But, bless her, she did lay an egg today ......

[Mercedes55]

Did your vet say what she thought was wrong with your girl?

 

I think the amount of Baytril your girl is on will most likely be right as the vet has prescribed that amount and it's the same amount that we gave our ex batt, but we didn't mix it with water, just gave her 0.8ml directly into her beak from a syringe. Like many others we find it easier doing that in the sense that you know they have taken it all. Catching them to actually give it to them is quite another thing. I am covered in scratches tonight from trying to catch our 8 girls who all had to have varying amounts of antibiotics syringed down their beaks.

 

The Beryl stuff is something we were advised to give our hens by someone we spoke to on The Chicken Vet helpline. I think it's kind of like a hen version of Yakult or something like that and it puts the good bacteria back into their gut. You would use that once your girl has finished on the Baytril though.

 

You can read about it here

[Luvachicken]

Thanks Mercededs555.

The vet didn't really say what Myrtle has. She asked me what I though was wrong and I said I thought she had a cold.

She weighed her and checked her over and listened to her chest. And then said the antibiotics wouldn't work if it was a viral thing.

Hopefully the vet is phoning this afternoon and this one knows more chicken things than the one we saw.

 

It's just typical that I took her specifically on the Sunday to nip what she has in the bud and here we are today not much better off.

[Mercedes55]

Thanks Mercededs555.

The vet didn't really say what Myrtle has. She asked me what I though was wrong and I said I thought she had a cold.

She weighed her and checked her over and listened to her chest. And then said the antibiotics wouldn't work if it was a viral thing.

Hopefully the vet is phoning this afternoon and this one knows more chicken things than the one we saw.

 

It's just typical that I took her specifically on the Sunday to nip what she has in the bud and here we are today not much better off.

 

It's a worry when the vet asks you what the you think is wrong with your hen isn't it

 

I would imagine they give antibiotics even for viral illnesses just as a precaution to stop then turning into secondary bacterial infections. All our girls are on antibiotics even though their illness is viral and apart from one they do all seem to be making a recovery.

 

It might be worth trying to find a proper chicken friendly vet. If the vet who is phoning you this afternoon is more aware of chicken ailments it might be worth asking her if you can just syringe the Bayril into your girl rather than diluting it in her drinking water so that you can be sure she is getting the meds. I do hope she gets better soon, it really is a worry when they are sick

[Chucky Mama]

Whilst the calculated dose should be given in drinking water over a minimum of 6 hours, the actual recommended dose is

is 10 mg/kg body weight daily for 3 to 10 days. Each ml contains 100 mg so if you are syringing it directly you could work the daily dose out if you weigh her. It would seem sensible to give it twice daily but still have a word with your vet when they are back

[Luvachicken]

I just phoned the vets again about 11 as I didn't want to wait till later, but unfortunately she was busy so I have to wait.

Right now, Myrtle is in the dog crate just snuffling. She now has discharge from her nose and both her eyes seem a bit like conjunctivitus like. I have tried to gently wash her face and did manage to get a big dry bit off her nose.

 

Hope 2pm comes soon

[Luvachicken]

I phoned the vets and they said she can have 0.5ml Baytril twice a day, with the baby rice being given every 2 hrs.

I hope that with some food inside and some medicine she will soon start to feel a bit better.

[Luvachicken]

What a difference the right medication makes . After having just the 2 lots of medicine yesterday, there was Myrtle this morning tucking into mealworms and sweetcorn and lots of water.

I was not looking forward to today really because hubby had to go to work and wouldn't be able to help me with Myrtle but there we are - she did it all by herself.

She still sounds a bit snotty and her eye was very gunged up first thing - but she is so much better and out enjoying the grass and some sunshine

If only the vet had prescribed the medicine neat in the first place she would have been back with her frineds today

[Mercedes55]

Oh that is great news that she is responding to her meds, well done

[Luvachicken]

Thanks Mercedes555, she looks better again today. It has stopped raining for the mo so she is pottering about again in the rabbit run.

Hope you chickens are feeing better too.