Poorly chicken
- Thread starter Cliodhna
- Start date
Pretreated is OK so long as that's all they get to eat for the 7 dsy course, so they don't get the chance to fill up on anything else. I take it you'll be using Flubenvet on the rest of the flock?
Did the vet give a reason for using Panacur rather than Flubenvet? It's not licensed for use in poultry, usually it's for cats or dogs, though a vet can prescribe it. Your hen may well have some worms, this would be normal, bit as her worming programme is pretty well up to date I don't think the worm burden can be great enough in itself to cause the symptoms she's experiencing. Do you think your vet is very experienced with poultry?
Did the vet give a reason for using Panacur rather than Flubenvet? It's not licensed for use in poultry, usually it's for cats or dogs, though a vet can prescribe it. Your hen may well have some worms, this would be normal, bit as her worming programme is pretty well up to date I don't think the worm burden can be great enough in itself to cause the symptoms she's experiencing. Do you think your vet is very experienced with poultry?
I've just been researching Fenbendazole (Panacur) and there seems to be very little clear evidence about how much to use and how to administer it. I did find this discussion on a poultry forum site
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6911
But I'm still left wondering why anyone would use a wormer licensed for mammalian species and not for a chicken, when a safe and effective licensed chicken drug is available instead? The Wikepedia article about Fenbendazole says there may be toxic side effects when used on birds.
I found several sources saying that many vets will prescribe Panacur mainly because they haven't got Fkubenvet in stock, which doesn't seem an adequate reason to me.
Try Googling Fenbendazole for chickens and see what you find.
From what you have reported about your hen, I am inclined to think that whatever the main problem might be, it's not a big worm burden anyway.
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6911
But I'm still left wondering why anyone would use a wormer licensed for mammalian species and not for a chicken, when a safe and effective licensed chicken drug is available instead? The Wikepedia article about Fenbendazole says there may be toxic side effects when used on birds.
I found several sources saying that many vets will prescribe Panacur mainly because they haven't got Fkubenvet in stock, which doesn't seem an adequate reason to me.
Try Googling Fenbendazole for chickens and see what you find.
From what you have reported about your hen, I am inclined to think that whatever the main problem might be, it's not a big worm burden anyway.
The vet nurse who came in with us keeps quails, but I'm not sure of the vet's experience. She had never heard of flubenvet and had to look up the ingredients when I told her that's what I use. She could have quite easily told me to get some and worm her if she didnt have any available, so I dont think not stocking it is a reason to use panacur. I presumed it was an alternative to flubenvet.
I dont know if its wishful thinking but she does seem a little bit brighter, she protested when having her water this evening, which is the first time there has been any resistance to opening her beak.
I'm a bit worried about her going without food as she still isnt interested. She has pellets in her cage and hasnt even given them a glance. Its now been 48 hours and she has had a small amount of porridge.
I dont know if its wishful thinking but she does seem a little bit brighter, she protested when having her water this evening, which is the first time there has been any resistance to opening her beak.
I'm a bit worried about her going without food as she still isnt interested. She has pellets in her cage and hasnt even given them a glance. Its now been 48 hours and she has had a small amount of porridge.
chrismahon
Well-known member
Our digestive impaction cases get no food for nearly a month, so a few days won't matter Cliodhna. Important that you don't feed layers pellets- the excess Calcium severely inhibits the take-up of Baytril. Give her rearers pellets to eat. Also no yoghurt or probiotic supplements as they also counter antibiotics. She will need probiotics 24 hours after the Baytril course finishes so I would recommend ordering Avipro Avian now. Mix a scoop with 100mL water and administer water as previously.
ooh thanks for the tip about layers, I had no idea.
Huge improvement when I got in from work today, she is up on her feet and awake, she still wants to be cuddled and when I let her out she is straight on my lap and up around my neck, but she has eaten on her own (still only small amounts but its something) and she has also had a small amount to drink. She is also protesting a lot more about taking her medicine, which is great.
I seriously thought I was going to lose her and was gutted. I know I'm not out of the woods yet, but compared to yesterday I'm allowing myself to be a little bit hopeful.
Huge improvement when I got in from work today, she is up on her feet and awake, she still wants to be cuddled and when I let her out she is straight on my lap and up around my neck, but she has eaten on her own (still only small amounts but its something) and she has also had a small amount to drink. She is also protesting a lot more about taking her medicine, which is great.
I seriously thought I was going to lose her and was gutted. I know I'm not out of the woods yet, but compared to yesterday I'm allowing myself to be a little bit hopeful.
chrismahon
Well-known member
Avipro Avian contains both probiotic and prebiotics. Prebiotic is food for the probiotic and that's all that's in Avipro Plus.
They rebranded the product recently in the light of EU licensing being awarded. We ended up looking at old literature on the web and bought Plus which we now mix with probiotic yoghurt and give that.
They rebranded the product recently in the light of EU licensing being awarded. We ended up looking at old literature on the web and bought Plus which we now mix with probiotic yoghurt and give that.
She is loads better, having a wander round the living room as we speak.
Its her last day of antibiotics and so start on the avipro tomorrow.
Im starting the others on the flubenvet today, does that mean I have to keep her separate for 7 days, because she has been wormed with panacur, I wouldnt want to od her. She wont go outside until she is completely recovered anyway, but I thought I had better check.
Its her last day of antibiotics and so start on the avipro tomorrow.
Im starting the others on the flubenvet today, does that mean I have to keep her separate for 7 days, because she has been wormed with panacur, I wouldnt want to od her. She wont go outside until she is completely recovered anyway, but I thought I had better check.
If you keep her totally separate indoors, you will possibly have problems reintegrating her. Could you perhaps make her a little mesh enclosure where she can see the others but live separately during the day? It would be good for her to get out in the open air again, you don't want her to get too acclimatised to indoor temperatures. I'm glad she's getting better.
Okay so she went outside on Friday, I have 2 houses, each with an attached run, and then a large run taking up half the garden.
she is in the smaller of the two houses with the run door shut.
She hasnt left the hen house since I put her out there. I've now moved her food and water inside the house (because she wasnt eating). She's definitely much brighter than when she was really poorly, but she is refusing to leave the house.
she is in the smaller of the two houses with the run door shut.
She hasnt left the hen house since I put her out there. I've now moved her food and water inside the house (because she wasnt eating). She's definitely much brighter than when she was really poorly, but she is refusing to leave the house.
chrismahon
Well-known member
Might be it's too cold for her system in its current state Cliodhna, because it takes two weeks for the gut flora to re-establish. Even if she is eating, without good gut flora she won't actually digest anything, so will have no energy to keep her body temperature up. Could also be the strange surroundings? Keeping her warm is very important because if her body temperature drops too low she will be in serious trouble. Our little sick hen is still coming in at night, even though she wants to stay out.
chrismahon
Well-known member
Instructions say in a priority case mix one scoop with 100mL water. When that's gone that is all she needs. Time will do the rest.
After an initial improvement, my girl went downhill very fast and I asked my vet to put her to sleep this morning.
We still dont know really what was wrong with her, but my vet thinks there is a possibility it may have been avian tb because of how thin she got so quickly. The other possibility was a tumour, because despite going painfully thin within a couple of days, her weight went up.
I'm gutted, its the first of those I hatched myself that I have lost, and she was the most affectionate.
We still dont know really what was wrong with her, but my vet thinks there is a possibility it may have been avian tb because of how thin she got so quickly. The other possibility was a tumour, because despite going painfully thin within a couple of days, her weight went up.
I'm gutted, its the first of those I hatched myself that I have lost, and she was the most affectionate.
So sorry to hear this, Cliodhna, after all your care. I'm not very surprised, though - once they get to such a seriously ill stage, recovery is usually doubtful. They hide the early signs of illness so effectively that often, by the time even the most conscientious keeper notices there's something wrong, they've gone downhill badly. And chickens are subject to various internal illnesses for which there is no cure.
She was a very lucky girl, though, to have had such good care with you right from the time she was hatched. It's always seems to be the most loved ones who fall ill and die.
She was a very lucky girl, though, to have had such good care with you right from the time she was hatched. It's always seems to be the most loved ones who fall ill and die.
chrismahon
Well-known member
Sorry to hear that Cliodhna. Know exactly how you feel because we have just lost another one of our three Orpington sisters, hatched 5 years ago. A big strong girl she was fine Sunday afternoon and gone Thursday morning.
The one thing it has taught me is that I dont need to worry about having to despatch sick chickens myself. My chickens are my pets and they will be treated the same as any other pet and taken to the vet if they need it.
I didnt, for one second, consider not taking her, and yes it may work out expensive in the long run if all of them become sick at different times, but considering she had 2 lots of antibiotics, 3 consultations and then was put to sleep it came to less than £70. I dont think that's expensive considering the care she received.
I didnt, for one second, consider not taking her, and yes it may work out expensive in the long run if all of them become sick at different times, but considering she had 2 lots of antibiotics, 3 consultations and then was put to sleep it came to less than £70. I dont think that's expensive considering the care she received.
That's very reasonable, Cliodhna, I would have expected a much higher bill than that. Like you. I always take mine to the vet when their time has come, though personally I think that over the years I've become more resistant to the idea of extended courses of treatment, especially those needing antibiotics or any invasive measures. Usually I feel I would know when a bird Is on her way out, and would take her to the vet for confirmation and euthanasia rather than treatment.