Raw, Itchy Bum

[MiaCarter]

Corkysgirl -- Oh now! Old lady bird's eye isn't doing good?
I worried about that when you said you were giving her antibiotics long term. They usually develop a resistance after a few months.

It can help to alternate between 2 or 3 different drugs.
What are you giving her now?
What have you given her in the past? Were any of those effective?
There are tons of different antibiotics, perhaps we could find another that you could use/try?

Priscilla is looking much better this AM!
She's no longer puffed up.
She is still hanging out in the heat lamp, but that's okay. That's what it's there for!
Haven't gotten a good look at her bum yet today, but it was looking good last night.
The new batch of Nystatin and new probiotics are out for delivery, so we'll have those if we need them.
My current batch of probiotics says they expire on 6-2014, so not sure if that means they're dead already? Not sure. There's not much left anyways, so I'll probably just toss the old jar and open the new one when we finish up the antibiotics.

[Corkysgirl]

That's great that she's feeling better. If she's not puffed up...and hanging out under the heat lamp, that's a good sign. I'm so happy she came through this! i
If you're getting another batch of probiotics, I'd throw those out but if you didn't have a replacement, they could still have some live cultures...enough to do some good and no harm at least.
I know it's not good to keep my old lady bird on antibiotics...(funny...she has such a beautiful name...Little Fawn and I call her old lady bird ), if it wasn't under direct contact with Laraine at every step, and having done everything for her. She's been on everything! Colloidal silver drops to her eye, Amoxitex multiple times. Gentimycin drops via her Avian Vet, Doxycycline/megamix, back on Amoxitex with Colloidal silver drops, Doxycycline/megamix again with the rest of the bottle of Gentimycin drops and now we are just keeping her on prophylactic Doxycycline/megamix and Tylosin together. I have to contact Laraine again. We left off with this is the last resort. The avian vet in this state is more than 75 miles away. Not sure what I'll do yet.

[MiaCarter]

Yes, I'm delighted she's pulled through. I *think* she's going to make it. Not out of the woods yet, but close for certain!

Squeepers is keeping her company tonight under the light. He enjoys the warmth. It's become a very popular spot! LOL

Elvis retreated back to sit on the eggs now that she's better. (Which I'm about to pull and give to Molly Sue and Ivy.) It's funny as he's like an easy way to meter her condition.
He is right by her side when she's super sick. As she gets better, he backs off and gives her more space.
So thankful if Priscilla makes it for Elvis' sake. They have a rather epic birdie romance! LOL

I started cropping her meds instead, so I'm not exposing the others to unnecessary drugs. Now that she's feeling better, she's not drinking solely from her small bowl on the floor anymore.
And I've started wondering if she's ate the food with the Nystatin at all. It's not added to water; it's applied to food. So better to crop it if we need to use it. No need that I can tell, but I may add it just in case since she'll have been on antibiotics now for 3+ weeks.

No more eggs, thank goodness!!

The redness on the skin is virtually gone! The immediate vent area is still a bit upset, but SO much better than before.
And no more bleeding at all yesterday or this morning. That's over 48 hours so I *believe* we're over that.

She's actually groomed off all the big chunks of dried blood. But the feathers are still stained and she's speckled with blood elsewhere too.
Elvis is also covered in her blood, especially on his tail.
So baths will definitely be in order when she's feeling better!

On Little Fawn (love that name!)....
Sounds like you've done lots of different meds. I'm sure there's got to be one or two left, no? Hopefully something you haven't thought of! Or maybe you could revert back to one of the meds that was previously effective in hope she's lost any resistance?
Oh, I pray you can find another effective solution for her to give her a bit more time. I always try so hard to save their lives, as they've only got one. Then it's over.

[Ginene]

Yes, I'm delighted she's pulled through. I *think* she's going to make it. Not out of the woods yet, but close for certain

.
This is wonderful to hear! Best of luck to you both (mom & bird ).

[Corkysgirl]

I love the Elvis and Priscilla love story! It's the sweetest thing ever!!!
I'm so happy she's doing better! Wow...she bled all over Elvis too. Well, he loves her. After all of that, she didn't even get the Nystatin? Now I'm confused who the eggs belong to. Priscilla laid them right? And you're giving them to Molly Sue and Ivy to hatch? I think I have it straight....maybe.
I wrote to Laraine, but with Little Fawn, it's so complicated, she has to talk to Dr. Rob Marshall about her and sometimes it takes time to get the answer back. I only have Amoxitex for an antibiotic left besides the ones I'm giving her. The Colloidal silver irritated it further. She said to not give it to her any more. The Gentamycin was a prescription and my Avian vet died in a scuba accident. (The one I had in Maryland...and gave me the Gentamycin). I can't get any more. SO upset about that!!! He was the best!!! Also, I don't think drops are enough. I want to take her to an Avian vet but me being sick, them being so far, and even at that, their hours are nuts! They roll up the sidewalks here at 6. My husband works till 4:30 and they close every day at 6...and not open Saturdays...and they're 75 miles. See...my problem!
My old man/young hen have 8 eggs laid. These are new eggs. I candled them...but two are recent so I don't think they are old enough to candle. One looks possible....maybe a vein...and darker. Not sure as usual but not light yellow like the rest. She's serious this time!

[MiaCarter]

Ginene -- Thanks!
It will be truly miraculous if she pulls through with two very serious back-to-back illnesses like that.
I will say that that little sweetie has one heck of a will to live! I really hope she makes it. She has such a sweet little gentle spirit.
Last night, I'd just finished buttering her bum with ointment. I'd put her back into the cage. But Priscilla flew back out of the and landed on my chest and made her way onto my shoulder and got comfy. Very unlike her. She only tolerates being handled. Definitely doesn't seek it out - ever.
But she stayed there for about 20 minutes! I started talking to her and she just started chattering away! It was a precious moment. I wish I'd brought my phone in; I would have loved to capture it. It was like she was humoring me.
"Okay, Humum, you've helped me out. I shall sit with you and chat....but only this once! Let's not make it a habit!"

I think it's a testament to her health going into it. She must have been quite healthy to start in order to survive such an awful 3+ week assault.
That's reassuring as her mum; you always wonder if you're doing it right, you know?

@Corkysgirl -- We have 6 eggs in all. 3 from Ivy/Molly Sue and 3 from Priscilla/Elvis. They laid on the exact same days!
Priscilla is far to stressed and unwell to even dream of being a mom right now. She'll need at least a couple months to get back to healthy.
I'm going to pull Priscilla's eggs and give them to Molly Sue and Ivy.
In a few days, I'll check for fertility and pull any duds. If all are fertile, I'll do all 3 of Molly Sue and Ivy's eggs and 1 or 2 of Priscilla's/Elvis' eggs.

On the Nystatin....Yeah, I wonder how much she actually got since it gets sprinkled on the food rather than added to water. She was eating, of course, but it's possible she didn't eat enough. So I think if I give it again, I'm just going to crop tube it so there's no question.

For Little Fawn....
Have you tried trimethoprim sulfa? I know that's good for bacterial infections. Might be worth investigating that one, as I noticed it wasn't on your list.
If you want to try it, PM me and I can pop some in the mail for you. The 100g packet I got for Priscilla is WAY more than I'll ever use before it goes off. (The dosage is small -- 1 tsp per gallon or 1/4 tsp per quart, if I recall properly.) I could cure a few dozen twirling birds with the big bag I bought! That way you could try it and see if it helps her before you buy.

Such wonderful news on your 8 eggs! That's a huge clutch! You should have a few good ones in there!

[Corkysgirl]

Oh my gosh Mia, Priscilla sounds like my Little Fawn. That's why I love her so much and can't let her go. She sounds so sweet! I love that. I'll bet she was thanking you for taking care of her. If Elvis knows enough that she's sick then she knows enough that you're taking care of her. I would never think this but my LF is very personable. She's my only bird who has been like that, who comes over to me for attention....just like Priscilla.
That's smart not letting her hatch out the eggs.
No I haven't tried TS. I started to look it up to see if it matches her eye infection but...I haven't been to bed yet since yesterday 4ish am. It was too much reading. I would like to try it though. I can pm you. I just checked Little Fawn. Her eye is BAD! Then I saw the young hen was fluffed up. WTH! She's doing this seizure thing...at least that's what I call it...that her mother always did...it's a blinking, staring thing. I caught her and she has another egg. That will be nine! That's crazy. I gave her calcium....boiled a pot of water to put near the cage. The lamp is already on and turned the heat up in there.