Getting your chickens to drink the medicated water

[ShellyL212]

Hi...I'm new here and new to the chicken world. I am way obsessed with my new babies. I have 2 littles that are about 3 weeks old and 10 kids that are about 6 weeks old. I had a little baby die on me. I didn't know she was sick because I'm not experienced. I noticed my other 2 week old Polish had a crusted nose and was not looking good. So I went to the stock shop and got some antibiotics for all of them. The littles and the kids are seperated. The kids are showing signs of being sick now. You put the antibiotics in their drinking water. I'm getting stressed out because I'm not seeing all the birds drinking the water. So I'm not sure whether they are all getting the medicine or not. The littles are doing good now and drinking the water. What do I do to ensure the kids do to? Any advice would be great.

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. Where did your chicks come from—a breeder, feed store, hatchery, other? Can you describe your set-up, how you are brooding them, what source of heat, inside, outside, and pictures are welcome. What is the name of the antibiotic?

Respiratory diseases in chickens are spread by carriers, and survivors can make the whole flock carriers. They can have some environmental reasons for symptoms, but if you are seeing nasal drainage and lethargy, there may be a disease. Have you seen watery or bubbly eyes, facial swelling, sneezing, or gasping? Most antibiotics are no longer available without a vet prescription in the US. Some can still be found for giving by injection.

If the respiratory symptoms are caused by a virus, no antibiotic will treat it anyway. Sick chickens do become lethargic and may not drink enough of the treated water. If you tell us what you are using, we might have some helpful advice.

 

[ShellyL212]

All my chicks come from a family owned feed store that is very well known and reputable. I have a large coop and pen. The kids are in the coop now and the littles are in a brooder box and heated at night with a heat lamp. The weather is nice in Arizona right now during the day but cold at night.

I'm not seeing facial swelling or watery eyes. I noticed my 2 week old Polish had a crusty nose and was sleepy. After 2 days of the antibiotics she has seemed to recover. I have an Easter Egger that is about 6 weeks old that seems sleepy and no energy right now. Daisy is one of my most energetic so its very obvious. She has no discharge in her eyes or nose yet. 2 Cornish hens sound gurgly and one is gasping. They gave me Bird Biotic (Doxycycline). It seems to have worked on the Polish chick. I had 2 Polish chicks. One passed away before I knew something was wrong. I know they are more fragile then the others.

I gave Daisy some of the medicated water with a dropper. I want to make sure she gets the medicine and also doesn't get dehydrated. I'm just feeling overwhelmed.

Should I isolate the sick birds? I'm pretty sure everyone has been exposed at this point.

 

[Ms Clucky]

Take the little one with one hand and put some of the water in a teaspoon and dip the kids beak down in the water. You might have to do this a few times and probably everyday for a while until you notice them doing it on their own.

 

[Eggcessive]

How much doxycycline are you giving? This sounds like a fairly serious outbreak of some respiratory disease, possibly mycoplasma (MG,) but hard to know without some testing by a vet. Is this the product the vet gave you:
https://www.allivet.com/p-3532-bird-biotic-doxycycline-100mg-powder-packets.aspx

It can be given orally 10 mg per pound twice a day to each chick, instead of putting it into the water. You would need to weigh the chicks to know how much to give each one. It is best to medicate only sick chicks. It can be hard ro separate sick birds from non-sick birds with multiple ages, and at the time those are forming their pecking order.

Treating a respiratory disease can be tricky with having multiple age chicks, different weights, some sick, some not, and treating in the water is probably the easiest. But when they don’t drink the water, you may need to mix a packet with water and dose them individually.

I don’t usually like to recommed antibiotics for an unkown sickness, but it is good that you have talked to your vet. If one or two if your birds gets really sick and does not make it, it would be best to refrigerate the bodies to get a necropsy by your state vet. They can then test and identify what disease, which is good to know. A flock with a chronic respiratory disease should be closed to new birds. All birds, even ones who did not seem sick should be considered carriers.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I am so sorry you are dealing with this and getting into chickens with so much difficulty... Chickens are amazing, and it sounds as though you are learning about respiratory illness the hard way. However, @Eggcessive is fantastic and gives great advice. And you found a vet who will help - more than many BYCers have been able to do. Sounds like you're doing everything you can. I hope you keep us updated.

 

[ShellyL212]

I had an emergency with the cornish yesterday morning. Found her laying on the coop floor listless and gasping. I immediately brought her in the house and thought I was going to lose her yesterday. I know she's a cornish but I treat all my cornish equally as loving as the others. She sat in my arms all day and I fed her antibiotics, mealworms, regular feed and electrolytes...pretty much anything that she would eat or take. This morning she is WAY better and back with the flock! I'm keeping a strong eye on her all day and will give her meds by hand for the next couple of days. Everyone else is doing great! Daisy Maisy is back to herself and my little Polish chick Stevie is doing wonderful! Fingers crossed everyone gets through this. I love them so much! Thank you for your responses! I really really appreciate it!

 

[Ms Clucky]