Do our chicks need an antibiotic in their water?

[Boo-Boo's Mama]

DH brought our first chicks home from TSC on 3/24. The people there loaded him up with food, feeders, waterer, etc. In that was a package of Duramycin-10; the salesman told him to put a pinch of it in a gallon of water and use that for the chicks.

I did not realize it was an antibiotic until I had to make another gallon of water for the chicks and read the label. I told my husband I did not understand giving them meds if they were not sick. Asked if they said how long to give it to them; he said "no".

I would like your opinions. I do not feel good about giving them meds when they are not sick...feel like it will weaken them in the event of future problems.

Peggy

 

[silkiechicken]

Don't put it in, a pinch is even worse than giving a full dose. It just primes bacteria to become resistant to it by the time you really need it to work.

 

[TurkeyMountainChickens]

They probably don't need it. However, if they have not been vaccinated for coccidiosis, they SHOULD be on medicated chick feed. That's a special medicine for coccidiosis, which isn't a general antibiotic.

 

[PaulaJoAnne]

Are they sick?
THat is the ony reason to give them,and if you ever do need to, its a good idea to either just give them probiotics, or if you feel the antis are needed, then give some pros with them.
Antis are not discriminitory. They kill off the good guys too.

 

[Boo-Boo's Mama]

PaulaJoAnne

No, none of the chicks are sick.

I did not realize it was medication (thought it was vitamins or such) until I went to make that gallon of water...my husband had been doing it. He just took it for granted that if the TSC salesman said they needed it, then we had to have it.

My nearly 4 week old chicks have been on it since 3/24. The BO started on it one week ago and the new chicks started Thursday.

The older chicks have been using a sandbox for dust baths for over a week...have not put one in the other chicks brooders yet. Would using the sandbox...they peck in it a lot, help give them a natural resistance?

Peggy

 

[Boo-Boo's Mama]

I took all the chicks off of the medicated water this morning. Hoping all are ok

 

[speckledhen]

TSC strikes again. I'm not sure what the deal is, if hatcheries are telling them to sell antibiotics or they just want to make a few extra bucks on every chick sale. No healthy chick needs antibiotics. Do you take them when you're well? Same diff. Enjoy your chicks!