Antibiotics - read me before administering.

[BastyPutt]

Folks -

There are so many suggestions on BYC to dose your flock or sick birds with antibiotics and very little information provided about the aftermath and potential danger to YOU through consuming their eggs and meat afterward.

The point of this post isn't to deter you from using antibiotics, or from responsibly treating sickness in your your flock however you want - it's your flock. But you should know that each year more and more flock dosing (added to communal water) antibiotics are either being banned or now require a prescription from a vet. The regulatory agencies don't and have never cared about the chickens, but are supposed to regulate how consuming food animals and their bi-products can be harmful to humans - which is what has been happening to unassuming, well intentioned back yard farmers for years.

Antibiotics are a quick, easy way to treat multiple birds at one time. But, just be informed that there are a whole load of other remedies available that are 100% effective and safe for you, your birds and your family.

Here is an article to read about drug residue transference from an excellent source.

https://www.chickenwhisperermagazin...an-health-and-avoid-drug-residues?hs_amp=true

 

[muddy75]

I agree that antibiotics can be over utilized at times in both humans and animals when not absolutely necessary, but in all my time on BYC, I have never witnessed our educators irresponsibly recommending their usage. Maybe you should consider putting together article(s) with information on some of the holistic/alternative remedies you’ve found in your research and experience for others to consider when dealing with sickness in their flocks

 

[RubelliteRose]

but in all my time on BYC, I have never witnessed our educators irresponsibly recommending their usage.

This is what I have also seen. BYC Educators (people with an Educator badge ) tend to discourage unnecessary antibiotic use and encourage egg/meat withdrawal times after the necessary use of antibiotics.
I agree that one should not use antibiotics unless absolutely necessary. In addition, unless the entire flock is suffering from an infection, people should also treat individual birds.
Starting next month, all over the counter antibiotics for farm and companion animals will require a prescription, so an article with alternative medications would be very much appreciated

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

I like using colloidal silver as it works on bacterial , fungal and viral
It doesn’t cause harm to the birds or to us humans
With that being said I don’t keep my eggs from any birds that have been feeling unwell
They go straight in the garbage

 

[BastyPutt]

I agree that antibiotics can be over utilized at times in both humans and animals when not absolutely necessary, but in all my time on BYC, I have never witnessed our educators irresponsibly recommending their usage. Maybe you should consider putting together article(s) with information on some of the holistic/alternative remedies you’ve found in your research and experience for others to consider when dealing with sickness in their flocks

In no way do I believe folks are being irresponsible, but I can see how the tone has come off that way. I believe that anyone trying to help is doing it in good nature.

I also don't believe people shouldn't use antibiotics at all. Id say, if I was facing some sort of illness that was threatening my entire flock and no other remedies were helping, I'd have a hard time not considering something along those lines to save them opposed to watching them all die one by one. Fortunately in over 10 years, I haven't yet.

Although not always true, a majority of those looking for help in terms of illness on BYC are generally new flock keepers - again, my experience and observation. I know in my early days, I had no idea that what I gave my chickens for food or medicine, I was ultimately giving myself.

I believe when we are advising with antibiotics, dewormers or anything else that crosses the membrane, we should also advise that it could be harmful to the keepers for a certain amount of time, or possibly forever on some medications that admittedly have no idea if they ever clear the animal entirely. And you are correct, something like linking articles to holistic methods would be me walking my own talk.

On that note, I will do this.

 

[BastyPutt]

I agree that antibiotics can be over utilized at times in both humans and animals when not absolutely necessary, but in all my time on BYC, I have never witnessed our educators irresponsibly recommending their usage. Maybe you should consider putting together article(s) with information on some of the holistic/alternative remedies you’ve found in your research and experience for others to consider when dealing with sickness in their flocks

In no way do I believe folks are being irresponsible, but I can see how the tone has come off that way. I believe that anyone trying to help is doing it in good nature.

I also don't believe people shouldn't use antibiotics at all. Id say, if I was facing some sort of illness that was threatening my entire flock and no other remedies were helping, I'd have a hard time not considering something along those lines to save them opposed to watching them all die one by one. Fortunately in over 10 years, I haven't yet.

Although not always true, a majority of those looking for help in terms of illness on BYC are generally new flock keepers - again, my experience and observation. I know in my early days, I had no idea that what I gave my chickens for food or medicine, I was ultimately giving myself.

I believe when we are advising with antibiotics, dewormers or anything else that crosses the membrane, we should also advise that it could be harmful to the keepers for a certain amount of time, or possibly forever on some medications that admittedly have no idea if they ever clear the animal entirely. And you are correct, something like linking articles to holistic methods would be me walking my own talk.

On that note, I will do this.

 

[BastyPutt]

I like using colloidal silver as it works on bacterial , fungal and viral
It doesn’t cause harm to the birds or to us humans
With that being said I don’t keep my eggs from any birds that have been feeling unwell
They go straight in the garbage

Colloidal silver is an excellent remedy. And absolutely the best idea - dispose of any and all eggs that may be affected.

 

[BastyPutt]

In

I agree that antibiotics can be over utilized at times in both humans and animals when not absolutely necessary, but in all my time on BYC, I have never witnessed our educators irresponsibly recommending their usage. Maybe you should consider putting together article(s) with information on some of the holistic/alternative remedies you’ve found in your research and experience for others to consider when dealing with sickness in their flock

I will absolutely do this, and tag you in it. It may or may not be a good resource for folks - but atleast it would be an alternative for those looking for it.

 

[Missys Chicken Ranch]

Colloidal silver is an excellent remedy. And absolutely the best idea - dispose of any and all eggs that may be affected.

Do you think CS would work for a rooster with possible Coryza?
He has had "something " for months and so far nothing has worked and..none of my hens have it. He has minimal symptoms. I am just trying to figure out how to help him.

 

[BastyPutt]

Coryza would be considered a growing microorganism, which is why they would typically treat it with an antimicrobial. CS acts more as an antibiotic against bacteria - although some infections can be both.

Like anything natural, I'd say it doesn't hurt to try in most cases. We use something called "super silver" from Amazon.

Some other natural antimicrobials would be cinnamon, pomegranate and spicy peppers. Chickens can't taste "spicy" food, a pepper won't taste "hot" to them. Extracts of these are always good, but doesn't hurt to use a carrier oil, like coconut oil