My Rhode Island REd hen is sick. I noticed she was not eating as good and walking a little slower and had heavy breathing. I went to my local feed and seed and they gave me terramycin. I have been giving it to her by eye dropper. I brought her inside were it is warm. Does anyone know what this could be? Am i doing the right thing. I am giving all my chickens the terramycin. I hope i have caught it quick enough. Thanks for any help you can give me!!!!

-- Sarah from NC (Caswell995@cs.com), March 07, 2001

Answers

How are her eyes? Cloudy? running? clear? Is there anything she could have accidentally gotten into?

Make sure she gets as much water as she can drink, and check the yard for anything she could have eaten. Also, check her to see if there are any bite marks if none of the other hens are affected. Sometimes, snake or rat bites won't bleed.

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), March 07, 2001.

I'd hold off the terramycin until you know you're fighting an infection. At this point I would just observe closely.

-- David C (fleece@eritter.net), March 07, 2001.

Keep up the antibiotics , sounds like respitory problems if she was breathy heavy.

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), March 07, 2001.

Whenever any of my ducks, geese or chickens start to have any respiratory problems I keep a regular jar of Vicks in the barn cabinet handy. I rub a thin film on the comb, spread the head feathers slightly and put another thin film on the skin there, a thin film around the nostrils... spread feathers 1-1/2" to 2" under beak on chest and put some there. I also add VetX, one tablespoon to their drinking water. Within 24 hours there is no raspy breathing and they are back to being perky!

-- Susi from NE (whitewolf@alltel.net), March 13, 2001.