How Long to Keep Pullet on Amoxicillin & Corid?

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

I originally posted about my ill, 6 month old BO pullet here. In a nutshell, she went off her feed and was having pretty explosive green diarrhea, often chunky and reminiscent of c. perfringens photos I've seen on the web. Despite all that, she was still energetic (and a huge pain in my ass per usual).

Through insight from the BYC forum, I put her on Corid and Fish Mox (amoxicillin), since I couldn't get her poop in to the vet's for testing for a whole week. She seemed to improve around day 4 of this treatment. On day 5, her poop was looked at by the vet, and it came back negative for Cocci, parasites, and bacterial infections. She did note an abundance of "brewer's yeast" which she said is a typical ingredient in any probiotic supplement--which she had been given (so I'm thinking that's why it's there). Unfortunately, I got the results via voicemail and now will not be able to speak to the vet until later next week.

Anyway, is it possible that due to my treatment any traces of the issue might not have shown up at that point? Moreover, should I discontinue Corid and amoxicillin treatment, or finish its course just in case? Would that be harmful for her?

Here is her regimen:

• First five days: 1/5tsp corid/gal. of water refreshed daily; 125 mg amoxicillin 2x daily
• Day 6+: 1/3 tsp corid/gal. of water refreshed daily; 125 mg amoxicillin 2x daily

If I continue treatment, how long should she be on amoxicillin and Corid? For Corid it sounds like 7 more days at the lower dosage, but I can't find anything definitive on amoxicillin.

Any thoughts are much appreciated!

 

[Eggcessive]

Since you have treated with Corid for 7 days, and the fecal float showed no coccidia in the sample, I would stop it. Amoxicillin is usually given 5-7 days in chickens.

 

[townchicks]

Anyway, is it possible that due to my treatment any traces of the issue might not have shown up at that point? Moreover, should I discontinue Corid and amoxicillin treatment, or finish its course just in case? Would that be harmful for her?

Yes, it is possible, and even probable, IME. I agree with Eggcessive, ok to stop the Corid. It is always important to finish any course of antibiotic, to avoid creating resistance. Is her stool normal now?

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

Close to normal. Color is a lot less green (pretty normal at this point), and she has mostly solid poops--that are a little on the moist side but nothing alarming--peppered with a couple really liquid poops here and there. I noticed her nighttime roosting poops are the best looking.

So, she is clearly on her way out of the woods but the occasional squirt makes me think she's not on the other side yet. Her appetite for feed has come back a lot as of today, so that's good.

One thing I'll need to talk to the vet about. She said the type of fungus in the stool is non-blooming and typical of brewer's yeast rather than an actual problem. I did give her a probiotic supplement and some Greek yogurt here and there--but I don't see "brewer's yeast" as a definitive ingredient. Could this have been a mold issue all along?

I did notice that, when I started supplementing with garlic, turmeric, and coconut oil occasionally, her appetite picked up. Of course, that could've timed up with when the meds started kicking in. Who knows.

Yes, it is possible, and even probable, IME. I agree with Eggcessive, ok to stop the Corid. It is always important to finish any course of antibiotic, to avoid creating resistance. Is her stool normal now?

 

[townchicks]

One thing I'll need to talk to the vet about. She said the type of fungus in the stool is non-blooming and typical of brewer's yeast rather than an actual problem. I did give her a probiotic supplement and some Greek yogurt here and there--but I don't see "brewer's yeast" as a definitive ingredient. Could this have been a mold issue all along?

That's a really good question, that I don't know anything about. I'll be interested to hear what the vet says. I don't think it comes from the probiotic, that should be bacteria (the good stuff). You might check your feed ingredients, possibly brewer's yeast in the feed? Glad she's on the mend. If her stool is better at night, that makes me think it could be that her fluid intake is higher than normal. Is her crop emptying normally?

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

Yes, her crop is empty in the morning and fills up during the day. I try to keep it pretty full by checking in multiple points throughout the day. The annoying thing is, she eats most when I'm physically down there holding the dish up to her while she's on the roost. She'll eat a bit on her own, but she only goes to town in that specific set-up. She's obsessed with being on the roost because it's by a window that faces the other girls/her home coop. She'll eat as long as I'm holding food up to her in that spot. Yes, she has always been a pain in the ass (but I love her tons).

I'm wondering of the antibiotics plus the diversity of foods she's been eating--since I was trying so hard to get her to eat anything for a while--has made her tummy more tumultuous.

Anyway, good point about the feed: I'll go check and find out!

That's a really good question, that I don't know anything about. I'll be interested to hear what the vet says. I don't think it comes from the probiotic, that should be bacteria (the good stuff). You might check your feed ingredients, possibly brewer's yeast in the feed? Glad she's on the mend. If her stool is better at night, that makes me think it could be that her fluid intake is higher than normal. Is her crop emptying normally?