Dare I to think that this is getting better!

I checked in on the “Down The Lane” chicken forum, this morning and there were a few more messages. One lady said that she had treated with tylan for as long as twelve days but was not always successful. This depressed me a bit. She also asked if I was using the right strength as she said the dose could be fiddly.

It is not an exact science by any means and dropping to half a teaspoon was probably less accurate than a whole teaspoon.  Now that I have a bigger supply of tylan I can be more generous. This morning I mixed a heaped teaspoon with a litre of water to give a bit more strength. This also means there is plenty of water to drink and also enough for a huge dish of mash that will last all day.

Every time I went in to see the girls I used a teaspoon to take tylan water from the drinker and top up the mash keeping it wet. This is incorporating as much tylan into the mash as possible.

First thing this morning Freckles and Speckles were at the mash and Dandelion was at the water

Then Cinnamon was at the water

Freckles, Dandelion and Cinnamon were at the mash but Apricot wasn’t joining in

Apricot is so timid but having a much bigger dish of mash meant that there would still be plenty left when the other girls had had their fill. In between I dipped a few spinach leaves in the tylan water and hand fed them to Apricot.

At last Apricot was having some mash

What were they looking at in the big shelter!

I listened to the girls breathing while they were having the mash and for the first time in days I couldn’t hear any sound to their breathing. I also think they are sneezing less and I haven’t seen any dozing.

Freckles and Dandelion in the small shelter but looking brighter

I hardly dare to say it, in case I jinx it, but I think things are getting better. I wonder if it is coincidence or if it is due to a bigger dose of tylan. I will do the same tomorrow.

Cinnamon getting ready to lay her egg

Cinnamon is now laying every three days so I think that she is okay. She has always drank the most water and along with Freckles she has always eaten the most mash. She is the only one of the little girls that didn’t have a sound to her breathing, just sneezing.

It is surprising being the tiniest girl that she has remained the most robust. I wonder if it is because despite her small size she is always eating. Her crop is always huge by bedtime.

At last I think that maybe we are turning the corner. I am keeping everything crossed.