Canker caught from wild doves

[Anonymous]

I've been battling against what looked like gapeworm with one of my older hens for about four or five months. Tried worming with Flubenvet, no help. I even treated for Cossidiosis.

Every time she got really down I gave her shots of Baytril, which clearly cheered her up but never really seemed to quite clear the ailment up completely. A month ago I treated her with Tylan which has produced a much better and longer lasting result but I still catch her gaping sometimes and her closest friend ( they are an inseperable pair) is looking a bit low now too.

A vets examination of the original hen concluded that the problem was right up in the throat area which was slightly swollen. Never any real idea what the problem was though.

I don't really want to jab the second hen with Tylan for three consecutive days, she doesn't like being handled. Also I would really like to treat all my hens together, preferably in the drinking water.

This week I saw a magazine article about wild finches being infected with Trichomoniasis from pigeons and when I read the symptoms I had a EUREKA moment. That's what my hens have! They used to have a run which was always busy with local turtle doves scrounging their corn, it kind of makes perfect sense now!

It seems racing pigeons suffer a lot with it , the fanciers call it canker. A quick Google came up with a treatment 'Ronidazole Powder' but I've not managed to find a supplier for poultry meds that stocks it. I assume there would be better info on dosage than buying from a pigeon meds retailer and so I would prefer that.

Does anyone here have any more information that might help me in my quest?

Would be very grateful!

 

[ncotb]

Harkers Spartrix is what a lot of people use. Weigh the bird & give 1 tablet per 400-500 grammes bodyweight daily. hyperdrug seems to be one of the cheapest online chemists at the moment. If you google the Spartrix several pet med sites will come up. HTH 07

 

[foxy]

Spartrix is indeed recommended by pidgeon fancers for trich. It might be an idea to get your bird looked at by a vet to diagnose whether it is indeed canker, otherwise you might be treating the wrong problem as the symptoms are similar to respiratory infections which typically affect the trachea. Maybe have a phone around to find poultry vet in your area, some small animal vets are not entirely confident with treating chickens. Try the chicken vet site here they may be able to help source a vet local to you.

Canker is charaterised by yellow ,cheesy growths in the mouth and throat bit like mouth ulcers. it is very difficult to eradicate and with advanced cases euthanasia is recomended. Vets usually prescribe a long course of metronidazole to treat. Good luck and please keep us posted!

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the help. 07

So far, over the time the first hen has cycled up and down with it, I think me and two vets have pretty much treated her for everything else it could possibly be!

Luckily my local vet does have a new recruit who is a wizz with poultry, he grew up with them, coming from a country that keep domestic poultry as a matter of course. I'll pop in and have a chat with him.

The idea of something to add to water would still be a better option if it were possible as half my hens are legbars and not very happy with handling for giving tablets, I don't like to stress them out if I can avoid it but it's good to know there is the option if it comes to it.

Currently, said hen is nice and active and eating well, I only think it's still there in the background due to the excessive head shaking that seems to have been the low level indicator that has accompanied the problem throughout.

I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[Anonymous]

A quick follow up for info only...

The three shots of Tylan to the badly affected bird with the rest treated to some Tylan in the water as a preventative measure and hey presto.

I only hoped to get my 'old bird' through perhaps her last summer but she took everything winter could throw at her too and is still as right as rain. No sign of any recurrances in the flock at all.

Hoorah for Tylan, no messing!