Tetracycline Hydrochloride & Sugar

[jrsqlc]

The last time I raised chicks, I was tole to put Tetracycline Hydrochloride & Sugar into the chicks water for the first few days.

How much of this should I use?
How long should I use it?
What does it do?

 

[gritsar]

Tetracycline is an antibiotic and in my opinion there is absolutely no reason to give healthy chicks an unnecessary medication. Doing so can make the antibiotic ineffective if and when you need it later on.
Some folks add sugar to their chicks water for the first few days - I'm sorry I don't know the amount - but I didn't. I kept it in mind in case I had a weak chick that needed a boost, but it was unnecessary as well.
Fresh, plentiful food and clean water is all that was necessary.

 

[Thortherooster]

i never used any of that, my chicks turned out to be fine...

 

[jrsqlc]

thanks for the tips!!
My first time rasing them I used both, and all my chicks grew up and are doing GREAT!!
Luckily I have never had a chick die on me.
And I had a 100% hatch rate on my Christmas chicks!!

My first time hatching and they all made it, so far!!

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Terrific! Congrats!

 

[Akane]

If you are hatching your own chicks then so long as they don't come out with health problems they don't need anything. Giving them anything could cause problems. Shipped chicks can benefit from extra vitamins or energy to get over the stress of shipping but no chicks should have antibiotics if they aren't sick. That's something started by big breeders of animals that have too many too notice if one is ill or to keep them all healthy and it can definitely lead to problems.