Can someone walk me through a tylan injection? Avoiding the crop.

[cicene mete]

I have a chicken that I thought had Marek's, but she recovered within a week on antibiotics. I have another one, a young pullet, with the same symptoms. She was lethargic and wobbly, with a bit of heavy breathing. In case it isn't Marek's I would like to try Tylan. The first chicken was on Baytril, but I can't keep going up to the vet with each chicken and spending $150. I understand that I need to give a 1/4 mL injection into the breast muscle once a day for three days.
I also want to avoid the crop. Can someone please tell me the best way to do this? First of all, I can never remember which side the crop is on. Or, when I do remember, I can't remember if it's from my perspective or the chicken's. I know I should know this by now, but I can never remember.

So, to clear it up, from the chicken's perspective, is the crop on the right side of the breast (with its right-wing, right leg, etc.)? In other words, if I were looking straight at the breast, the crop would be on my left, correct?

I have some dyslexia, and now is not the time to be proud and screw something up!

 

[cicene mete]

While I'm waiting to see if anyone can come in which side of the chicken the crop is on, I'll ask my follow-up. How far into our push the needle to make sure I get into the breast muscle but no farther?

 

[cjexotic]

I do not do it in the breast for that reason.. afraid of hitting the crop. So I do it subQ (under the skin) at the neck or between shoulder blades.
Just lift up skin and put needle in, draw back to make sure no blood from hitting a blood vein.. if clear then push plunger and you are done. Vet told me that is the safest way if you are afraid of sticking the crop.

 

[cicene mete]

Thanks for the reply. Is it as effective to do its subcutaneously as it is to do it into the muscle? I've only ever seen people on this site injected into the muscle, but subcutaneous sounds much easier.

 

[cjexotic]

That is all I do...for my chickens. The body is absorbing it. The only way it would react faster if it was injected into the vein and you don't do that.
With my silkies I was afraid of hitting the crop and the meat on the breast was not that thick and was afraid of hitting bone (which can but not always cause and absesse) so I only use tylan on my chickens via subQ. Now others may have their idea but that is what I do. And the Vet says its much safer for a novice.

edit: I think (not sure as I am at work and don't have the bottle in front of me) that is says subQ on it. Not all antibiotics can you do subQ but this one you can. After you administer it. You just rub a couple times the lump it creates and its gone into the system.

 

[cicene mete]

Thanks again, cjexotic. This will be good practice for me, as I need to know how to vaccinate baby chicks against Marek's (subcutaneous neck injections), and they have much smaller necks!

edit: mine says "Tylan 50 injection." Of course, it only has instructions for cattle and swine.

 

[chickenlady]

Tylan 50

* 1/2 cc in breast for 3 consecutive days for adult sized birds.
* 1/4 cc in breast for 3 consecutive days for bantam sized birds.


Notes

* Make sure you angle the needle so you inject just under the skin, and not deep in the muscle tissue.
* You will need to use a large needle on your syringe due to the solution thickness of Tylan. (20 to 22 gauge needle works best)
* Make sure you inject in a different spot each day.
* Tylan can be purchased at most farm supply stores, over the counter in the cattle section.


Warning

Do not eat eggs after treatment for at least one week after the last injection.