ohcarolina Posted September 23, 2011 Share Posted September 23, 2011 Hallo Betty the Gingernut isn't well and has been prescribed antibiotics. The vet showed me how to syringe down her neck (she looks like a little feathered fireeater with the syringe down there). Trouble is, she made it look so easy but when I was trying at 06.30am I only managed to get half the dose down her. The vet said to open her beak, put her head back and pull her neck up slightly. When I did that and squirted gently she coughed a bit (she's chesty anyway) and I panicked and let go (what a wuss). This happened about 3 times and I HAD to leave for work. This can't go on as she needs the meds. I guess that I'm terrified of pulling her neck too hard. Can anyone reassure me that I'm doing OK? I'll have more time tonight anyway as I won't be dashing out to work but I guess that I could use a bit of Omleteer support on this as there's only me to do it (and I'm gonna have to get used to it with 12 girls - I've just been lucky so far). Thanks Caroline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajayb Posted September 23, 2011 Share Posted September 23, 2011 Hi, I've had to do this to 3 hens night and morning all this week and shared your anxiety about how I would manage. It's easier to do in the evening. If you let them roost then remove them to give a dose, they are more sleepy/docile and the whole experience is less fraught. Once you've successfully managed the evening dose it will give you more confidence for the next morning! Hope that helps - good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted September 23, 2011 Share Posted September 23, 2011 You won't be pulling too hard if thats what you're worried about. You need to be firm (but still careful) and once you've done it a few times you'll be confident enough to do it quickly, so that you're done before she starts struggling, and she'll also get used to having it done. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mother hen Posted September 23, 2011 Share Posted September 23, 2011 I found it helps if there are two of you. Failing that kneel on the floor and hold the chook between your knees and gently lengthen and tilt her head/neck. I'm guessing you were given a length of tube, as well as the syringe, in which case you'll know that you've got the tube in the right place as you should see the feathers on her neck ruffle as it goes in. I was very nervous when I had to do it but kept focusing on the instructions I'd been given by the vet and the fact that it just had to be done, even if I failed at the first attempt - which I did on several mornings !! Good luck and I hope she's feeling better soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted September 23, 2011 Share Posted September 23, 2011 (edited) How I did it was this - you'll need to be on your knees on the floor and have the hen between your legs so she can't back out. Close your knees so they're close to either side of the hen. Gently grab her beak (she'll resist this, so put a hand behind her head until you have a grip on the beak. To get her to take the syringe you'll need her beak pointing upwards. Once you have a good grip, re-use the hand behind her head to grab the syringe and syringe the medicine into her beak. Do this bit quickly and keep her beak pointing upwards. Once syringed, keep her beak closed and pointing upwards for about 5 or so seconds. After that she'll have swallowed. If it's Baytril, it's quite a bitter taste so when you let go, her beak will open and close a bit as she won't like the taste... Give her a stroke, then let her be on her way. She won't thank you for your efforts.... Edited September 23, 2011 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohcarolina Posted September 23, 2011 Author Share Posted September 23, 2011 Thanks everyone for the good advice. It gave me confidence that she would break and we managed a whole syringe tonight. Caroline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolly Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 Our vet suggested dropping the liquid antibiotics onto a few small pieces of bread, and that's what we always do now. It works brilliantly, they hoover the lot up without any stress involved and even think they're getting a treat! You have to keep the others locked away while doing this though otherwise they'll all eat it! However it might be worth checking with your vet first that this method will be ok for your particular medication. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Potts Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 For Baytril, the vet advised adding some Ribena to it, to take away the bitterness. This worked but it is messy and stressful if there is only one of you. I've tried giving antibiotics with bread cubes, which they refused to eat. Then I tried small homemade raw beef mince balls, with the antibiotic injected into the middle (checked with vet who said this would be ok if the ball wasn't too huge, size of a 10p). I only let one hen at a time out of the run so no-one gets a double dose, but it worked really well and took away the stress for me and the hens, which balanced the expense of the mince for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohcarolina Posted September 26, 2011 Author Share Posted September 26, 2011 Thanks for the other excellent ideas. I'll deffo try the bread one tomorrow as the little is clearly feeling better and fighting all the way now. (I found dried flaygyl/chicken spit all up my arm at work this morning from where she sprayed me earlier - not part of the dress code ). I'm on my own so have to do it alone without assistance (the cats don't count, they just think that they are helping!) I'm still concerned as the rattly chest is back but she's happy in herself and FRing again today (they've all been dosed with the marriages flubenvet for the last week and confined to barracks) and happily bullying Edna the wussy Bluebelle The vet thinks its Myco and Persephone has started sneezing so I think I may be spending a fair bit of my wages on vets bills from now on Caroline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egghead68 Posted September 28, 2011 Share Posted September 28, 2011 I find it helps to wrap them up firmly in a towel with just their heads poking out, then grip their body with your knees. Use one hand to hold their beak open and the other to syringe. They will hate you afterwards. I hope your girls make a good recovery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
