Baytril Powder 10% Dosing for Sick Chicken

[CharlieBaby]

I have a sick bird in need of Baytril (enrofloxacin), and I need help determining the correct measurements. I purchased "Enrofloxacin 10% Powder." The packaging includes instructions for administering the drug in drinking water, but because my chicken is not drinking much and the taste of Baytril further discourages drinking, I need to syringe feed the medicine. My plan is to determine the correct powder dose and then add a small amount of water to the powder so it can be administered orally via syringe.

Here are the figures:

• Chicken is 4 lb
• Single dose is 10 mg Baytril/kg (4.54 mg Baytril/lb)
• Product is "Enrofloxacin 10% Powder"

And here are my questions:

1. The packaging says, "Contains: 10g of Enrofloxacin per 100g" (pic attached). Does this mean that 10% of the powder is the active ingredient enrofloxacin and the other 90% is filler?
2. The packaging also says, "Dosage: 1 Teaspoon (5 grams) per 1 gallon of drinking water for 5-7 consecutive days." If mixed as directed, would this mean the gallon of water would have only .5 grams of active ingredient enrofloxacin?
3. Assuming points 1 and 2 are true, I think I need .036 tsp of enrofloxacin powder per dose for my chicken (calculations attached). I will administer two doses per day for five days. Does this calculation seem correct?
4. Any tips or tricks for working with such a small amount of powdered medicine?

Please no comments about enrofloxacin (Baytril) being prohibited; I am aware of this.

Thank you!

 

[chickdiane10]

I'm looking for this exact information too.

 

[chickdiane10]

I had to do some digging bc i needed this too. This is an answer I got from my FB chicken group friend.

**Dosage is 10mg per kg. The label says it's 10mg per 100mg of powder.

So 100mg of that powder per kg of bird.**

For a 4lb chicken looks like 181 mg twice a day. Check my math on above. My brain and math don't always like eachother lol.

Do you have empty gel caps? Those are so easy to pill a chicken with. I'm always worried about liquids and it's so messy.

 

[CharlieBaby]

Thanks, @chickdiane10! It looks like we both got the same number, 181 mg AKA .036 tsp of powder per dose for a 4 lb chicken. That's reassuring.

Because .036 tsp is a tiny amount to measure, I made a solution at a X10 ratio and then administered 10% of the mixture to my hen. In other words, I added .36 tsp (roughly 3/8 tsp) to 10 ml of water, then syringe fed my hen 1 ml of the solution (which got me back to the .036 tsp). I may try gel caps in the future; thanks for the idea.

Math isn't my strong point, but I had a math teacher at the school where I work review my calculations and give them the green light. Seeing you get the same answer is another good sign.

Best of luck to anyone reading this, now or in the future, who is helping a sick chicken. In case it's helpful, I'll share that I got my "Enrofloxacin 10% Powder" (Baytril) from JEDDS Bird Supply. They also sell the liquid formula. There are several posts on here from people more knowledgable than me about dosing and administering medications. Here are a few:

• https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...edication-doses-under-construction-℞.1241252/
• https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/what-antibiotic-for-salpingitis.1274293/page-4
• https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...dications-to-all-poultry-and-waterfowl.73335/

 

[chickdiane10]

Thanks, @chickdiane10! It looks like we both got the same number, 181 mg AKA .036 tsp of powder per dose for a 4 lb chicken. That's reassuring.

Because .036 tsp is a tiny amount to measure, I made a solution at a X10 ratio and then administered 10% of the mixture to my hen. In other words, I added .36 tsp (roughly 3/8 tsp) to 10 ml of water, then syringe fed my hen 1 ml of the solution (which got me back to the .036 tsp). I may try gel caps in the future; thanks for the idea.

Math isn't my strong point, but I had a math teacher at the school where I work review my calculations and give them the green light. Seeing you get the same answer is another good sign.

Best of luck to anyone reading this, now or in the future, who is helping a sick chicken. In case it's helpful, I'll share that I got my "Enrofloxacin 10% Powder" (Baytril) from JEDDS Bird Supply. They also sell the liquid formula. There are several posts on here from people more knowledgable than me about dosing and administering medications. Here are a few:

• https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/℞-calculating-medication-doses-under-construction-℞.1241252/
• https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/what-antibiotic-for-salpingitis.1274293/page-4
• https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...dications-to-all-poultry-and-waterfowl.73335/

I have a little mg scale from Temu. And gelcaps Amazon. I get the ones that hold essential oil and it's what I use for meds...like wormer or whatever is best to direct dose. Plus the tiny syringes.
But yes the math, forever my weakness. I always second guess lol. I did college algebra and called myself done lol. But that was sooooo many years ago.

 

[Somshine]

I'm trying to figure this out on the 20% right now! It's so frustrating! Why can't they just have this little plastic stick with divots in it were you just pack the product down and wipe the access off and that's the amount you give per pound!?

 

[CharlieBaby]

I'm trying to figure this out on the 20% right now! It's so frustrating! Why can't they just have this little plastic stick with divots in it were you just pack the product down and wipe the access off and that's the amount you give per pound!?

I agree -- I wish dosing was straightforward! I know yours is an old comment, but I think for the 20% concentration, you would use half the amount we calculated in the earlier comments (because earlier we were working with a 10% concentration). Any "math people" able to confirm?

 

[casportpony]

I would use a gram scale to weigh five grams of powder. Then, I would add the 5 grams of powder to a glass beaker and fill it to the 20 ml line with distilled water.

If I did the math right:

5 grams of powdered product = 1000 mg enrofloxacin
1000 mg / 20 ml = 50 mg enrofloxacin per ml

 

[CharlieBaby]

Thanks, @casportpony. I like your method for liquid Baytril!

Since starting this thread last year, I've realized I prefer measuring Baytril (enrofloxacin) in powdered form and administering via a gel capsule.

Below, I've mapped out my math (and thinking) for a new case study. The case study is for a 5 lb (2.27 kg) hen using "10% Enrofloxacin Powder" at the slightly higher dose of 15 mg/kg 2x/day for 5-7 days.

I've written it out because I know so many of us find the math complicated, and the last thing we want to do is incorrectly dose a sick pet. I hope this will be helpful for others -- just make sure to plug in the correct weight of your bird (in kgs) and desired dose of Baytril (10 mg/kg or 15 mg/kg).

Maybe someone can check my math? @casportpony, you feeling math-y (haha)?

Clarifications/notes/reminders:

• The case study is for a 5 lb (2.27 kg) hen using "10% Enrofloxacin Powder" at the slightly higher dose of 15 mg/kg (not 10 mg/kg)
• Many chickens seem to do well on the "standard" Baytril dose of 10 mg/kg
• The purpose of this example is to help people think through how to calculate correct dosages
• When doing your own calculations, cross multiplication is your friend
• This example might help people think through other forms of Baytril at concentrations other than 10% and in liquid form; adjust ratios accordingly
• To find gel capsules, search for "empty gelatin capsules"
• I like using my "(New Version) AMIR Professional Digital Scale, 20g Pocket Scale with 0.001g Accuracy" pocket scale (Amazon $17)
• Most people seem to administer Baytril 2x/day for 5-7 days
• Consult a vet where possible; sometimes this is an option, other times not

Here's to healthy chickens!