Used endo-cox... withdrawl time?

[CyndiChick]

I had some chick's with a seemingly resistant strain of coccidiosis. After 3 rounds of corid they were still ill. I ordered endo-cox powder and gave it at 1 tsp per gallon of water. I was worried I had cross contaminated my entire flock, so I treated my 1 and 2 year old gals as well. I then thought about withdrawal time and started reading up on it. I read that it shouldn't be given within 4 weeks of onset of laying and not to use within 4 weeks of processing meat birds. Also some sites said not to use any eggs EVER after giving to already laying hens. Is that true? Did I just screw over my entire flock?? They are pets and are loved and spoiled, but I cannot afford to keep a pet flock and an egg flock separately. I appreciate any help!

 

[Susan Skylark]

The drug is not approved in egg laying hens in the us. If you are selling your eggs this is an issue. If you are eating them yourself (or certain understanding friends/neighbors) it isn’t a huge issue. The drug can be found in eggs at 19 days post treatment. It is tolerated by humans. I’d wait a good 2-3 months post treatment to sell eggs. You can probably safely eat the eggs even during treatment (the dose would be low and it isn’t toxic to people) but if you are uncomfortable with it, wait a couple weeks. Drug residues are to protect the public from commercial food product contamination but aren’t a huge concern if you don’t sell meat, milk or eggs. A lot of things have not been studied in a lot of species (expensive and no profit in it for drug companies). Check farad, it is a great resource for residue and withdrawal times in a variety of species.

 

[CyndiChick]

The drug is not approved in egg laying hens in the us. If you are selling your eggs this is an issue. If you are eating them yourself (or certain understanding friends/neighbors) it isn’t a huge issue. The drug can be found in eggs at 19 days post treatment. It is tolerated by humans. I’d wait a good 2-3 months post treatment to sell eggs. You can probably safely eat the eggs even during treatment (the dose would be low and it isn’t toxic to people) but if you are uncomfortable with it, wait a couple weeks. Drug residues are to protect the public from commercial food product contamination but aren’t a huge concern if you don’t sell meat, milk or eggs. A lot of things have not been studied in a lot of species (expensive and no profit in it for drug companies). Check farad, it is a great resource for residue and withdrawal times in a variety of species.

I do sell, but only to a few people so that's not a big issue- I just won't have any available for sale. I do donate dozens each month to a food bank, which is a bigger concern for me. I assume I should just not donate and toss the eggs for a couple months then I would be ok?

 

[Susan Skylark]

In theory, again there isn’t much in the literature and it is best to ere on the side of caution when dealing with the public and drug residues. You should be okay after 2-3 months but certain drugs (gentamicin) can remain in the milk for 18 months (now that is definitely a pet cow). Just don’t sell anything that will be federally inspected!

 

[casportpony]

https://farmanimal.elanco.com/au/poultry/product-directory/baycox

 

[Susan Skylark]

That’s the fda approved and tested information. Do not use in laying hens either means it has not been tested for withdrawal period or the withdrawal period is so long it doesn’t make sense in a commercial flock (ie a month or more). Ideally yes you would just cull the entire flock and start over (and legally if this was a commercial flock you’d have to) but pet and hobby birds are a gray area. That is why FARAD exists, it is a resource for producers and vets in treating minor species or using novel drugs in unapproved ways or species (please consult with a vet before using drugs off label!). When nothing is labeled for your species or when labeled treatments don’t work, that’s where you need to consult a vet for ELDU (extra label drug use) and often they will consult FARAD (food animal residue avoidance database) to get an idea on treatment routes, dosages, and withdrawals. You can do a search on farad and see what’s out there already. Or a vet can submit a request on a particular drug and species. It all comes down to laws, regulations and what is profitable for the drug companies. We have a thousand drugs to use in feedlot steers with pneumonia but nothing for dairy cows!