Antibiotic to Mix in Water?

[alexblueaustralia]

So i have over 400 rare breed chickens and a respiratory illness has begun to spread with the purchase of what i didnt realize were sick birds. I have tried tylan 50 fed directly to the chickens twice daily and the dosage changes based on size but as it spreads i am unable to keep up with getting each bird the proper amount twice daily. I need a better option such as the now unavailable duramycin-10 to mix into their water. Is there an alternative since i know they took this off the shelf. I can get the liquid duramycin from tractor supply but i cant find any threads about mixing it in water. I surely cant inject lets say 50 birds twice daily thats just fiscally impossible. What is everyone using to combat these illnesses on a larger scale?

 

[Kiki]

Is taking one or two to the vet an option?
A vet can prescribe you medicine.

 

[Eggcessive]

What symptoms are they showing? Are there swollen eyes with drainage, or a bad odor? How many are sick now? Since any sick birds will carry the disease to others, someone with such a large flock may want to cull sick birds, and send a couple to the state vet for a necropsy to identify the diseases. Many times there can be more than one disease present. Some diseases make the flock members carriers for life, while one (infectious bronchitis) can make them carriers for up to a year. Here is a link with the common respiratory diseases—infectious bronchitis, mycoplasma gallisepticum, infectious coryza, ILT, and aspergillosis:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

 

[nminusyplusm]

Can you get one or some of your birds tested so you know exactly what you're dealing with?

I'm sure this isn't what you wanted to hear but 2 common causes of respiratory disease are not really treatable (MG and IB) and surviving birds remain carriers.

I'm dealing with this myself on a much smaller scale with only 5 chickens. If I had a lot more I'd probably let nature take its course and keep the survivors as my personal closed flock (with only 5, I treat their symptoms with Tylan). I will never breed my birds, they'll just live out their lives with me and I have no plans to introduce new flock members.

 

[Kiki]

Op just recently acquired someone's whole flock...not quite sure on how many that flock consisted of. Poor thing probably brought home ill birds.

 

[nminusyplusm]

Op just recently acquired someone's whole flock...not quite sure on how many that flock consisted of. Poor thing probably brought home ill birds.

That sucks. The OP has my deepest sympathy.

 

[alexblueaustralia]

Ive been in contact with NCSU and they are working on a necropsy to determine the issue. Theres also a hurricane happening within 24 hours so im trying to start a regime asap instead of up to two weeks from now when power restores.

 

[alexblueaustralia]

please if you cant offer any advice other than "see a vet" or something similar please keep your opinions to yourself. I need actual solid advice on what i can purchase from a store to get this under control asap. thank you

 

[Kiki]

please if you cant offer any advice other than "see a vet" or something similar please keep your opinions to yourself. I need actual solid advice on what i can purchase from a store to get this under control asap. thank you

Go to the store an look to see which antibiotics they have on the shelf.
You should be able to find Tylan. (which you already have) It may not be what you want to do and it may not be the easiest to use but sometimes you have to work with what you have if you can't see a vet.

 

[Kiki]

Have you been able to find a different antibiotic to use?