Terramycin Dosage? - Help!-First Chickens

[newclucker]

OK....I just mixed 2 tsp per gallon and we'll see what happens.
She does not have runny nose, but is a bit sneezy and breathing
laboured. The one that is always with her (her buddy) and the others seem great. I have had them here since Thursday noon.
Should i give them all the Terramycin in the water? I have her separate, but that is stressing her out even more.

 

[silkiechicken]

Well... just to step in for a moment, even though you need xx milligrams per gallon, you also have to know how much filler is in the formulation you are using. As the whole package may have yy milligrams, but zzz grams filler so you can measure it out. The package should say it's total weight and the total drug in the package. From that, you should be able to get the right dosage.

 

[newclucker]

Hi...yes, the package says 400-800 mg of Terramycin powder per gallon of water is the proper dosage. I'm also giving it to the others till I can speak to the seller and find out more about the "cold"....HUH!
I would like to take them all back unless, there is a chance it could be something less serious that causes sneezing and hard breathing. Please bear in mind that only this one is acting sick at this point. Her buddy isjust a little sneezy, but no runny nose, eyes or hard breathing.

 

[silkiechicken]

Yeah, but the package says 400-800mg pf Terramycin powder is the dosage, but I don't think that is the net weight of the package. Drugs never come purified. Only in lab do you find such things. See if you can't find the net weight. Take the net weight and total drug content of the package, and then subdivide there by weight.

For example, I found this from google searching terramycin:

http://www.pfizerah.com/PAHimages/compliance_pdfs/US_EN_TW_compliance.pdf

Then using some rounding in the significant figures:

6.4 ounce package containing 10 grams of drug

28.3 grams/ounce, thus 181g total package weight.

10grams drug/181g total package weight = .055g drug/ g powder in package

Or, 55 mg/g of powder.

If you want about 400 mg/ gallon, then put in about 4 grams of the powder.

4 grams of powder = .14 ounces

.14 ounces is 2% of the package, or 1/50th of what is in that bag you have.

If you can't measure 1/50th, make a stock solution which is a 1:10 final concentration. Put 1/5th of the package into water, and take 1/10th of that to make up a gallon.


Edit:

Using our search feature:

"Terramycin dosage"

Second post down
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=56518

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=28944

 

[CUDA]

Quote:
I know it says that, but trust me, you are wasting your time with it on CRD because it doesn't work. If you want to do the Terramycin, the 2 teaspoon per gallon is fine. I have not seen a bird yet with respiratory problems that responds well to Terramycin. It is really a broad spectrum antibiotic, and I only use it when treating a wounded bird. If I have a respiratory problem I want to treat, I use Tylan, and it works every time, period. Good luck!

 

[silkiechicken]

Best of luck, I too would not be surprised if it does not work for some aliments. If an antibiotic has been used for a particular type of infection, and it comes back or gets transmitted, chances are it won't work again. Antibiotic resistance is a huge problem. Always finish doses, and only treat if you are certain what is going on.

 

[newclucker]

Thanks for everyones help with this. I will let you know what happens with the bird. I have a feeling that the one won't make it. I am really mad that this happened. I bought these birds from a good friends neighbor. It is the teenage sons business and he seemed really knowledgable about the birds. Live and learn. I'll call him again and tell him what has happened. Just to be perfectly clear, I assume then that there is no such thing as a "cold" for chickens. I know that sounds stupid, but I just want to make sure.

 

[newclucker]

I forgot....where can I get Tylan....I'm in Texas....where it's 99 degrees today!! HOT!!

 

[newclucker]

Also....where in the forum can I post asking for suggestions on where to buy HEALTHY birds that are not too far away from me in Texas. I know there is a large mail order place called Ideal. I'd like to find a small breeder close by if possible.Sorry for all the questions!

 

[arlee453]

Most feed stores Tractor supply co, etc carry the Tylan. Just call around to see who has it.

Chickens do get a variety of respiratory illnesses that a lot of people call 'colds' because they do not know exactly what the cause is.

Unfortunately, in my opinion, often the 'cure-all' for any symptom in a chicken is 'give terramycin' or some other antibiotic.

Antibiotics will only help if the illness is bacterial in cause, and then certain antibiotics only work effectively against particular pathogen bacteria. (as CUDA stated)

There are a lot of 'very knowledgable' chicken people out there who really have no clue about how to really treat illnesses. They just throw antibiotics at anything and everything and hope for the best.

You'll meet a lot of them at the local feed store when you go in asking for help with a sick bird....

The only way to know for sure what is wrong with those chickens is to take them to a vet that will deal with chickens.

Aside from that, you can treat based on the wisdom shared here already, and consider it a lesson learned - if you are getting any kind of animals from ANYONE and they come with directions for giving medication, you better think long and hard before putting your money down.

A lot of folks believe that contantly medicating chickens is normal (ie, keeping antibiotics in the water, etc) but that is NOT normal. And SHAME SHAME on anyone who would knowingly pawn off their sick animals on someone who is just starting out with chickens and then making it seem like it's normal for chickens to catch a so-called 'cold' just because the weather has changed.