This was originally a post online.  I was answering a question about how to help a sick yearling hen with droopy wings.  The owner was very rural and didn’t have access to an avian vet.  Even a small town vet was not readily available.  Thought I would add this reminder since it is time to deworm your birds if you haven’t done so in a few months….

I will add one thought before I start.  Often I hear folks talk about “worming” their birds.  I smile and think, Do we really want to worm them?  I much prefer to Deworm them for obvious reasons.  I know this is just splitting hairs, but thought I would add it for a thought to ponder.  Now for my reply….

I’ve  been in the same boat.   I have an excellent avian vet 2 hr away. I can’t always get there. Local small town vets can do fecals. If you choose to do that, ok.  I personally with her age would treat for internal and external parasites. I wouldn’t make the 2 hour drive going to my avain vet until I’d done what I know to do to help my birds. I assume from your questions on dosages she has not been dewormed. My avian vet told me I can administer different meds together so long as they are not hitting the same target.                                                                                           

—Corid OR Sulfadimethoxine– 1 t. Per gal water for coccidiosis X 5 days.  Corid is easily found over the counter at most farm and feed supply stores or can be ordered on line.  Sulfadimethoxine is a prescription medication so you will need to work with a Vet.  Some breeders believe that Corid is not Bioavailable in hard water. When I ask my avian Vet about this, he said he had not heard that.  If that were an issue I would  think the company would put a warning on the label on the package since most farm animals are treated with hard well water.

—Safeguard 1- 1.5 cc direct dose daily OR Valbazen .5 – .75 cc  direct dose daily for internal parasites  for a small adult.  For a larger adult, 2-3 cc Safeguard  OR  Valbazen 1-1.5 cc.   Either of these meds should be given 5 days.  To treat the flock, Valbazen 15 cc per gal of water or Safeguard 30 ccs. per gal. of water for 5 days.  To kill the eggs that hatch and break the life cycle, retreat in 2 weeks.

—-Flagyl (Also called Metronidazole)for Blackhead -500 mg per gal water

 Classic symptoms of Black head would be yellow egg colored stool, droopy wings, and lethargy. This is also a prescription medication but is very effective.  Metronidazole is an antibiotic that is used to commonly treat protozoal and anaerobic bacterial infections. It also has anti-inflammatory effects in the bowel.  Metronidazole is bactericidal, it kills bacterial microorganisms.  It is excellent in the water for 10 days of chicks to give them a good start if they are not thriving.   Some people have used Fishzole from the pet shop but I have no experience with this.  I do think it is in the same class of drug.

—-Ivermectin, Ivermec, Agrimectin, Pour on for Cattle.  All 3 of these meds are the same medication just with a small change for different drug companies labels.  This is given .4 -.5 cc topically on the SKIN not the feathers.  A few drops can be put under each wing, a drop behind the crest, a few drops on each side of the vent, and a few drops on the back.  This will work systemically and treat for most internal and external parasites.  This is a 1 day treatment.

Corid, Flagyl, and Safeguard or Valbazen can be given at the same time. He even said I could if really needed, treat topically with Ivermectin at the same time but prefers to space Ivermectin and other dewormers about a week apart if they aren’t critical. Bottom line you can’t kill a dying bird. I would pull out the “ammo” and shot gun with the top 3 listed above and dust her with Seven, Ectaban, or some poultry dust. If she doesn’t start to improve in 3 days I’d be very surprised. Carefully monitor her food also. Keep her isolated with a heat lamp or caged in the house. She needs extra heat fir comfort and to assimilate the meds quicker. If she is thin I would soak good quality (animal based protein not a soy based protein if you can get it, if not use what you have) dog or cat food in medicine water and start dropping moist, medicated kibble (about 15 pellets at a time) down her throat 3 x a day if possible until she is eating on her own. I would also carefully syringe med water (about 15 cc 2-3 times daily) a little at a time down the side of her throat past the trachea to insure she is getting enough medication each time you feed her. When she is eating well you should be out of the woods BUT All 3 of these meds should be administered 5 days since this is the “shot gun” approach.  Flagyl/ Metronidazole should be given for a total of 10 days like other antibiotics to have the best success.  It is recommended to repeat the deworming in 2 weeks. This regime of treatment can be used quarterly with great success. If you don’t have access to the fecal testing this should cover all the bases. I would expect your hen to perk up very quickly.

Other foods she should thrive on while convalescing would be scrambled eggs, green beans, soft fruit. You could even soak bread in medicine water to get food, fluid, and meds into her. I prefer small round kibble dog or cat food but I have used bread in a pinch. Just get the meds, heat and support therapy going.   I’ve often seen there is a 3 day window when they are sick enough that we notice and when they die.

If you do not have Flagyl just treat with the first 2 above. If she doesn’t improve you can get Flagyl going as soon as you can find it.  It is a prescription antibiotic.  FYI, I do not treat prophylactically the entire flock with Metronidazole.  I use this antibiotic on a sick bird if I can not get to the vet.  Good luck!  Wishing you the best.