Antibiotics in sick chickens?

[malory]

First post here! excited, anyway- yesterday i decided to give three sick birds antibiotics. everyone is about 14 weeks old. I gave them 2 drops of bio mycin 200 (oxytetracyclin) orally. my question is should I do a follow up dose? they seem much better. im not thrilled about dosing them to begin with but I felt it was necessary. now im thinking about the importance of completing a full round of antibiotics so that the remaining bacteria doesn't get stronger but weighting that against the negatives of giving a harsh drug. I am pushing probiotics.
NOW DETAILS- of the 15 birds I got a couple months ago, I got five brahmas from a different breeder. compared to the others they have always seems weak. one died early and I thought it was just they way chicks sometimes seem to die. several days ago a second one died and I thought a couple were showing signs of cocci. dosed with corrid and no results. the bird in the worst shape, I gave it a tiny bit of straight corid with no results.
I started noticing a little snot and I think the brahmas may have carried in a respiratory or sinus problem. the response to antibiotics has made me feel hopeful but im not sure where to go from here.
as far as the snot goes- cannot hear any breathing trouble and no gasping.
any advice would be welcome!
thanks,
malory

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Welcome, glad you joined and asked this question.

It isn't advisable to give antibiotics if you don't know your birds have a bacterial infection. A nasal discharge can often be viral. If you start, however, you must give a full course. Filling the world with antibiotic resistant bacteria is worse than any harm it may do your birds.

Be ready to send the next bird that dies for a necropsy so you know what you're dealing with so you know the correct course of action.

Chickens can become ill from fungal, environmental, nutritional, protozoal, viral and bacterial problems. Only the latter can be helped by antibiotics and half of them have no effective treatment.
For example campylobacter, chlamydia, cholera, typhoid, paratyphoid, mycobacterium, spirochetosis, pullorum, omphalitis, listeriosis, synovitis and erysipelas(some of which cause nasal discharge) are among the bacteria affecting chickens with no effective treatment.
Staph, strep and pseudomonas are now resistant to most antibiotics.

It is very helpful to know what ails the birds before one treats prophylactically.

Sorry if this wasn't the answer you were looking for.
Perhaps someone else will chime in with a more upbeat response.

 

[malory]

Welcome, glad you joined and asked this question.

It isn't advisable to give antibiotics if you don't know your birds have a bacterial infection. A nasal discharge can often be viral. If you start, however, you must give a full course. Filling the world with antibiotic resistant bacteria is worse than any harm it may do your birds.

Be ready to send the next bird that dies for a necropsy so you know what you're dealing with so you know the correct course of action.

Chickens can become ill from fungal, environmental, nutritional, protozoal, viral and bacterial problems. Only the latter can be helped by antibiotics and half of them have no effective treatment.
For example campylobacter, chlamydia, cholera, typhoid, paratyphoid, mycobacterium, spirochetosis, pullorum, omphalitis, listeriosis, synovitis and erysipelas(some of which cause nasal discharge) are among the bacteria affecting chickens with no effective treatment.
Staph, strep and pseudomonas are now resistant to most antibiotics.

It is very helpful to know what ails the birds before one treats prophylactically.

Sorry if this wasn't the answer you were looking for.
Perhaps someone else will chime in with a more upbeat response.

I totally agree with you and believe I could have made a mistake but ive already treated. I suppose my question should have been- how should I continue with the Bio Mycin 200? does anyone know about dosing chickens with it? do I even need more than one dose? there is some info online and these forums but a lot of conflicting info.
thanks.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

http://www.drugs.com/vet/oxytetracycline-hcl.html

 

[Eggcessive]

I agree with ChickenCanoe about antibiotic treatment, and I would definitely get a necropsy next time. Most respiratory infections in chickens can make carriers of a flock. Sometimes with a virus, the antibiotic can help to prevent secondary bacterial infections. Here is some information from others who are familiar with biomycin (oxytetracycline) dosage:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/430678/wounded-hens-all-i-have-is-bio-mycin-200
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/834129/ulcerative-enteritis

 

[malory]

thanks eggcessive, it also just occurred to me to search for LA 200. a lot more dosing info with that.