Poorly Hen!

Re: Poorly Hen!

Violaine Colon — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 18:13:35 GMT

For the recovery diet, I used Harrison recovery formula.

I find it easier to syringe feed compared to the Oxbow critical care.

Re: Poorly Hen!

Mark Holmes — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 17:07:56 GMT

I just soaked and blended chicken food when one of mine when off last year.

Re: Poorly Hen!

Mark Rowland — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 16:58:28 GMT

Yep thats what I use

Goodluck

Re: Poorly Hen!

Sandra Milburn — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 16:41:04 GMT

thanks, handy tip. seems like there is email ping-pong going on here now :) Silly question, but the recovery diet you are talking about - is that the oxbow critical care (for rabbits?)

Re: Poorly Hen!

Mark Rowland — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 16:31:21 GMT

Medial metetarsal vein, collect into heparin tube for haem and biochem, most labs should give you a good profile

Re: Poorly Hen!

Sandra Milburn — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 16:23:36 GMT

Thank you both so much for the help so far. Think funds should be more available than usual for a chicken :). Interesting to learn about the Maxitrol etc, will pass that on to relevant parties (and try and retain in own grey matter for future reference). Did think about pm (whilst reading chicken section in BSAVA manual).

Re: Poorly Hen!

Mark Rowland — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 15:59:38 GMT

Yep I agree. The other thing I forgot to add was to do a pm if this chook doesn't make it.

Re: Poorly Hen!

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 15:55:51 GMT

[quote user="Sandra Patzner"]Was thinking Mycoplasma, but then why just unilateral discharge and only eyes affected. [/quote]

Certainly that could be Mycoplasma.

My two penn'orth.

Re: Poorly Hen!

Mark Rowland — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 15:31:32 GMT

Hello.

First stop the maxitrol, steroids are very immunosupressive in birds, even ocular preps.

You also have resp signs (open mouth breathing) and a sick bird so aggressive supportive care is whats needed. Culture etc with so many treatments is not likely to be rewarding but if you want to do it one of the better sites is the choana.

I would hospitalise, go in at 15mg/kg bid with baytril and crop feed fluids or a recovery diet like oxbow, possibly some sub cut fluids also

Add non steroidals. I would start with meloxicam at 0.3mg/kg sid for now.

Do you have the funds for any diagnostics (bloods/rads)

Check a faecal for parasites,

Goodluck