Tetracycline hydrochloride powder

[rnoyster]

Hey all..........I have some new biddies and am trying to figure out how much tetracycline hydrochloride powder to add to their water. I have a 1 gallon waterer and if my math is correct, I should put in about 1/2 teaspoon per gallon. Can anyone tell me if this is/isn't correct?
Thanks for your help!
Dick

 

[horsejody]

Are they sick?

 

[rnoyster]

No they aren't sick, I was told to use this powder in their water for the first 14 days as a preventative. Is that correct?

 

[sundance]

when I got mine, is when i joined this forum and the lady that answered me back said 1 teaspoon to a gallon of water for 10 to 12 days straight. as I took them out of the box i stuck their beeks in the water and have never lost one. good luck marrie

 

[horsejody]

I suppose it's a personal choice, but I would worry that giving a healthy bird antibiotics would cause resistance to the antibiotic. Don't forget that there is normally a withdrawal period before using the eggs.

 

[rnoyster]

That is what I was told. I made up a batch with 1/2 teaspoon to a gallon of water and put it in the brooder, they all went right to it, got a drink and then hit the buffet line! lol! 12 little cornish rocks.

 

[rnoyster]

They are about 3-4 days old now. I was told to give it to them, fresh every day for 14 days then stop.

 

[mountaintopchicken]

I would not give them antibiotics unless they were sick.

If you already have chickens, then quarantine the new chickens so that they have no contact with the old chickens. Watch for any sign of illness. I quarantine any new birds that come to my farm for 6-8 weeks.

Giving antibiotics to animals that aren't sick can lead to antibiotic resistance. In other words, the bad "bugs" become immune to it. So, if at some point you really do need it, it might not work as well for you.

Who told you to use it as a preventative? The person you got the birds from?

Edited to add: did the person you got them from think they might have been sick? Confused about this recommendation...

 

[PQ]

Quote:
This is the right dosage... but as others have said giving anti's when they are not sick could be a bad thing. It tend to work less for them the more it is used. But I also have never had this breed so... hope the dosing helps. Happy growing

 

[horsejody]

I have read articles that say that commercial producers give antibiotics because it has the side effect of excelerated growth in the animals. Isn't getting away from the factory practices the reason we raise our own?