How Quickly Does Albendazole Work?

[chickchock]

Hi all

 

So 3 weeks into chicken keeping and one of our first girls got what the vet thinks is mycoplasma. He prescribed anti-bs in tablet form and showed hubby how to break them up and feed them to her. All very well...in the vet's office. In real life it is a complete pain in the backside! We have to isolate her from the other two and then mix the tablet pieces with corn but she picks through it and leaves the tablet. In 3 days she has probably had about one although I must say she is already looking a lot better.

 

Anyhoo. Today I thought I heard another chicken sneeze twice although I have not seen any other symptoms. The vet did say he would do another prescription if any of the other chickens caught it so I can easily get medicine for her, BUT - would it not be better to just crush them up and put them in the food and dose them all? Also, when I was reading about mycoplasma it seems that getting a liquid medicine to put in the water to dose all chickens is a more common way of treating it.

 

I am going to ring the vet tomorrow, do you think it's better to ask for the liquid, or ask for more tablets but put them in the food they all eat?

 

Excuse the long post!

[Cat tails]

I got liquid antibiotics for Cinnamon with a little dropper. Quite easy to administer.

Apron on, chicken on lap, left arm around chicken, left hand holding open beak. Right hand administer drops slowly.

 

You could do the same with the tablet... But not sure if she would just spit it out again. Try hiding it in a piece of sausage or a bit of wet cat/dog food. Something they would gobble up in one go.

Key to good antibiotic use is regular doses. Just doing a few will increase chances of future resistence greatly.

[chickchock]

I should add that she is a very nervous chicken, doesn't like to be held, in fact it took us an hour to catch her to take her to the vet. She will come close enough that you can put some feed on the ground for her, but won't eat it out of our hands like she did at the vet and is almost impossible to pick up.

[Cat tails]

I had to wrangle Cinnamon around too, but just do't be scared you're hurting her. They are quite hardy. Also try and lure her out with some treats and then corner her.

Easiest way to the night time dose is to wait untill they went to bed and just pluck her from the coop.

[loumabel]

I find tablets easier to administer than liquid. I always worry they will inhale the liquid into their lungs and if you put it in their water they don't drink it.

If you catch her and wrap her in a towel to stop the flapping then open her beak and pop the piece of tablet in onto the back of the tongue then hold the beak closed and stroke her neck it usually goes down. Confidence is key and I know that's easier said than done but once you have done it a couple of times you will be fine. If two of you can do it together it's much easier, one to hold her and one to do the tablet.

[chickchock]

Thanks everyone, very helpful. Loumabel I am sure you are right, it IS confidence on my part that is the problem. We are new to chicken keeping and they are fast!

 

I chatted to the vet this morning and decided to stick with the tablets but dose everyone. I'm going to try putting them in grapes or bread.

 

Thanks again!

[chickchock]

Pleased to report that I made some booby-trapped grapes (one quarter of a tablet hidden inside each half grape) were a great success! I could feed them half at a time which meant I got to keep an eye on who was eating what so they all had the same. Well, roughly. Dave is greedy guts and very fast!

 

Phew. Feeling much more relaxed about it now.

[loumabel]

Everyone is the same when they first start out. I know I was and I used to shake before having to dose my girls and spend 1/2 an hour chasing them round to pick them up

You are doing great and it's great news your girls are getting their tablets.

[Lewis]

Glad to hear the grape method is working for you!

 

It shouldn't be too difficult to give tablets, I've done it in other animals and birds but never actually tabletted a chicken! When handling them, try to stay confident and they usually feel more secure rather than if you're a bit nervous and unsure, they try to flap and get free. Hugging her in a towel may help.

[Valkyrie]

I agree with the towel - they can't flap and if you are more relaxed then it helps them too. I had to wash our scaredy cat's bottom the other day - didn't want fly strike! So after successfully cornering her in the garden and grabbing her, I wrapped the towel around her and took her to the sink - it also helps with holding with your elbow and leaving both hands free! She did struggle at first but then she hunkered down and I was able to finish washing and then ready to dry. I didn't realise the towel had slid over her head - so I think it had the even better effect of calming! Not so good if the business end is the head though! I wondered if it was like a falconry hood for her! Lewis - you'd know about that for sure! So I rubbed her dry and she stood there chatting to me as calm as you like. Wasn't until I carried her out to the garden that she made sounds like I was murdering her - yet she'd been fine for a short while! Honestly!

 

Enjoy your birdies - never a dull moment!!! I hope they all recover well. Nothing quite like being thrown in the deep end at the start!!!

[The Dogmother]

Hmmm, can't understand why they didn't give a liquid AB which one do you have?

 

As Lewis said, wrap her in a towel first t stop any scrabbling.

[chickchock]

Hi, it's called Ronaxan. I did go back and see him to discuss liquid instead and he said he would prescribe it if I wanted him to but that in his experience this one was the most effective so would be a more sure bet. I decided to stick with the booby trapped blueberries and they all seem fine now. It's also been useful sticking to the tablets as I've been able to ensure they all have the same amount, two of them are fast and greedy and most says I have to shut them in the run to make sure poor Hilda gets a look in with the blueberries!

 

We have one more day of medication and then 7 days and then we can finally eat the lovely eggs they have all started to lay!

[The Dogmother]

Must be prescribed off-licence then , as Baytril or Tylan would usually be the ABs of choice

[Lewis]

Just had a look in my books and Ronaxan is 'the drug of choice' for treating certain avian bacterial infections so sounds like a knowledgeable vet. Different antibiotics treatments are indicated for different diseases.

 

Let us know how they get on