I was just wondering why people use penicillin for their chickens? Injury? sick? What does it fix? How much for how long? I have used it before and was just wanting an idea of what others have used it for on their poultry? What kind? Thanks!!
What do you use Penicillin for? Sick? injured? What?
- Thread starter RedRoosterFarm
- Start date
I use it for injuries, like when I found gashes on two hens (rooster is really huge) and sometimes when I suspect egg peritonitis has set up, just in case I catch it in time. Other than that, I do not use antibiotics, period. It's injectible penicillin you can get at most feed stores.
speckledhen wrote:
It's injectible penicillin you can get at most feed stores.
Which feed stores? I see Tractor Supply has some in their fridge, but it says its for cattle, swine, goats. Nothing for chickens. Does it have to be specific for chickens or is that through the dosage? If so, how much is the dosage for a chicken and where do you inject it? Say for like Bumble Foot as and example.
Thanks!!!
Which feed stores? I see Tractor Supply has some in their fridge, but it says its for cattle, swine, goats. Nothing for chickens. Does it have to be specific for chickens or is that through the dosage? If so, how much is the dosage for a chicken and where do you inject it? Say for like Bumble Foot as and example.
Thanks!!!
Hi!
I'm bumping this because I really need help with my questions.
Thanks in advance!
I'm bumping this because I really need help with my questions.
Thanks in advance!
Hi. This might help direct you. I found the link to this on here somewhere and am currently giving Penicillin to my 3 month old roo who hurt his leg somehow....inside infection/swelling at the 'knee' to the 'ankle' (lol)....he had a fever and the 'knee' joint has a ball of something in it with the entire leg very very hot to touch, very swelled up and he's been limping around.... I figured he injured it coming off a roost or something... anyhow, for two days I've been giving him a shot of penicillin G procain and it looks like it might be helping. This lady said not to use the procain type but that is all they had and it seems like it's starting to do it's job anyhow..... I gave him an initial shot of 1/2 cc since this was going on for a week n half before I decided this probably is serious... then 1/4 cc from now on. I'm not sure how long to keep giving it to him though but I think until the hotness and infection is gone, I'll keep doing it. Oh, be careful with the needle and not accidently poke yourself before you give him the shot...it hurts. (ha!)
Also, I got it from the fridge at my local Farm & Fleet (farm store)...I told them I needed some Penicillan G for my chicken who had an infection in his leg and the lady gave me a bottle.... I guess it's for all animals. Just to note, the guy I first talked to said they didn't have anything for chickens and to do nothing...he said, "it will probably die anyhow".... I wasn't thrilled with that fried chicken lover anti compassionate worker so I went and got a lady who knew something about chickens AND mercy...
Give Injection
Syringe Size
◦A 2-cc syringe will give best accuracy for injections for chickens. Don't use syringe larger than 5 cc. (Note: 1 ml = 1 cc)
Needle Sizes
◦"Gauge" numbers relate to the needle's diameter thickness. Higher gauge numbers = thinner needles. Ex.: 24-gauge is thinner than 16-gauge.
■For drawing medicines into syringe, thick needles (such as 16-gauge) are easiest and quickest. It is important to use them when drawing thick medicines.
■For injecting medicine into a chicken, the small size of 22-gauge to 25-gauge needles are best. If you are giving a thick medicine (such as Penicillin) that gets clogged too easily in needle, you should use a 20-gauge or 22-gauge needle.
◦"Inch" numbers relate to how long the needle is.
■3/4-inch needles are good for intramuscular injections. 3/4 to 1 inch are good for subcutaneous.
Injections of antibiotics, vaccines, or fluids can be helpful in some treatments. Some should be given subcutaneously (just under the skin), some intramuscularly (in the muscle), and some intravenously (in a blood vein). Methods for these are described below.
ALL injections
◦To minimize soreness and any scarring, try to avoid giving injections too often in one location. Alternate giving one time on left side, next time on right side, etc.
◦At the injection site, spread the feathers apart so you have clear access to skin. You can choose if you want to try to clean area with alcohol--Many people don't.
◦Right before giving injection, remove the cover from the injection needle, and point needle upwards. Tap the side of syringe with your finger to make any air bubbles rise to the top. Then push the plunger on syringe until all air bubbles come out of end of needle & medicine starts to come out. Then stop and give injection.
◦The tip of a needle is slanted. For least damage and pain, rotate the needle so the longest edge of the tip is angled toward the place on body where the needle will go in.
◦You can wash and re-use a syringe, and a needle that is used only to draw medicine from a bottle--NOT one used to inject into chicken. Soak 15 mins. in rubbing alcohol to disinfect, and then rinse off alcohol with water so alcohol won't sting when use for next injection.
■Don't re-use needles used for injection, because of the risk of contamination, plus the needle tip gets dulled each time it's inserted and a dull tip would be painful to the chicken.
SUBCUTANEOUS injection
◦Good locations: Under the loose skin at the base of the back of the neck (Be sure the needle points more forward than down, because the lungs are located right below), [Info on other good locations needed??]◦How to inject: Insert end of needle about 1/4 inch deep in the muscle and slowly depress plunger all the way.
◦When you withdraw: Pull the needle out quickly and press a finger on the injection hole for a minute or two to minimize leaking of medicine or blood. Gently press down and massage area to help medicine get distributed.
INTRAMUSCULAR injection
◦Good locations: About 1/4 inch deep in the muscle in the chicken's thigh, or in the breast muscle a little to the left or right of the center bone (keel bone).
◦How to inject: Inse rt end of needle about 1/4 inch deep in the muscle and slowly depress plunger all the way.
◦When you withdraw: Pull the needle out quickly and press a finger on the injection hole for a minute to prevent leaking of blood or medicine. Gently press down and massage muscle to help medicine spread well and to help minimize soreness.
Treat with Penicillin
Poultry should be treated with "short-acting" Penicillin (such as Penicillin G), not "long-acting," 48-hour Penicillin (such as Penicillin G Procaine).
Supplies you will need:
◦Small bottle of Penicillin (~$11) -- Must be stored in refrigerator
◦At least one 2-cc size syringes (20 cents)
◦At least one 16-gauge needle (15 cents). 1/2 inch length is best but longer is alright.
◦One 20-gauge or 22-gauge needle for each injection you'll be giving (15 cents). 1/2 inch length is best but longer is alright as long as you don't push into chicken too far.
To prepare shot:
1.Remove Penicillin bottle from frig and allow to reach room temperature (Wait 15-30 mins.).
2.Attach 16-gauge needle to end of syringe, for drawing out medicine.
◦Don't use a smaller needle for this (Higher numbers like 20-gauge or 24-gauge are smaller needles) because the large particles in the medicine can't go through as well.
3.Very important: Shake bottle vigorously 2-4 mins. right before drawing out medicine.
◦Penicillin has large heavy particles that need to be floating so they go into your syringe.
4.Push needle into top of bottle; then turn it upside-down so syringe is below bottle.
5.Pull back the plunger on syringe until medicine reaches mark 1/8 cc more than amount you want.
6.Turn bottle right-side up and withdraw needle.
7.Hold syringe with needle pointing up. Pull 16-gauge needle off the end.
8.On end of syringe, attach 20 or 22-gauge needle for making the injection.
◦Some Penicillin particles may not make it through this smaller needle, but enough will. A larger needle would be too damaging for the small size of a chicken.
9.Give injection, following instructions in previous "Give Injection" section.
◦Giving intramuscularly will get medicine circulating in system soonest and is recommended for Penicillin. You can choose to give subcutaneously. Don't give in vein.
■Intramuscular Penicillin injections are very painful for people, cats, and some other animals, but do not seem to be for chickens.
Dose is 0.20 cc (ml) [=a little less than 1/4 cc] per day for a standard-size chicken. Range of safety is good: up to 1/2 cc occasionally won't generally hurt the chicken.
◦For severe infections, it helps to split the dose in half and give twice a day for the first 2-3 days, so chicken gets Penicillin more frequently added into body.
If Penicillin is a problem for you, do not eat eggs or meat from chicken for a while after treatment.
((http://sites.google.com/a/larsencreek.com/chicken-orthopedics/leg-braces))-link where the info was found
Also, I got it from the fridge at my local Farm & Fleet (farm store)...I told them I needed some Penicillan G for my chicken who had an infection in his leg and the lady gave me a bottle.... I guess it's for all animals. Just to note, the guy I first talked to said they didn't have anything for chickens and to do nothing...he said, "it will probably die anyhow".... I wasn't thrilled with that fried chicken lover anti compassionate worker so I went and got a lady who knew something about chickens AND mercy...
Give Injection
Syringe Size
◦A 2-cc syringe will give best accuracy for injections for chickens. Don't use syringe larger than 5 cc. (Note: 1 ml = 1 cc)
Needle Sizes
◦"Gauge" numbers relate to the needle's diameter thickness. Higher gauge numbers = thinner needles. Ex.: 24-gauge is thinner than 16-gauge.
■For drawing medicines into syringe, thick needles (such as 16-gauge) are easiest and quickest. It is important to use them when drawing thick medicines.
■For injecting medicine into a chicken, the small size of 22-gauge to 25-gauge needles are best. If you are giving a thick medicine (such as Penicillin) that gets clogged too easily in needle, you should use a 20-gauge or 22-gauge needle.
◦"Inch" numbers relate to how long the needle is.
■3/4-inch needles are good for intramuscular injections. 3/4 to 1 inch are good for subcutaneous.
Injections of antibiotics, vaccines, or fluids can be helpful in some treatments. Some should be given subcutaneously (just under the skin), some intramuscularly (in the muscle), and some intravenously (in a blood vein). Methods for these are described below.
ALL injections
◦To minimize soreness and any scarring, try to avoid giving injections too often in one location. Alternate giving one time on left side, next time on right side, etc.
◦At the injection site, spread the feathers apart so you have clear access to skin. You can choose if you want to try to clean area with alcohol--Many people don't.
◦Right before giving injection, remove the cover from the injection needle, and point needle upwards. Tap the side of syringe with your finger to make any air bubbles rise to the top. Then push the plunger on syringe until all air bubbles come out of end of needle & medicine starts to come out. Then stop and give injection.
◦The tip of a needle is slanted. For least damage and pain, rotate the needle so the longest edge of the tip is angled toward the place on body where the needle will go in.
◦You can wash and re-use a syringe, and a needle that is used only to draw medicine from a bottle--NOT one used to inject into chicken. Soak 15 mins. in rubbing alcohol to disinfect, and then rinse off alcohol with water so alcohol won't sting when use for next injection.
■Don't re-use needles used for injection, because of the risk of contamination, plus the needle tip gets dulled each time it's inserted and a dull tip would be painful to the chicken.
SUBCUTANEOUS injection
◦Good locations: Under the loose skin at the base of the back of the neck (Be sure the needle points more forward than down, because the lungs are located right below), [Info on other good locations needed??]◦How to inject: Insert end of needle about 1/4 inch deep in the muscle and slowly depress plunger all the way.
◦When you withdraw: Pull the needle out quickly and press a finger on the injection hole for a minute or two to minimize leaking of medicine or blood. Gently press down and massage area to help medicine get distributed.
INTRAMUSCULAR injection
◦Good locations: About 1/4 inch deep in the muscle in the chicken's thigh, or in the breast muscle a little to the left or right of the center bone (keel bone).
◦How to inject: Inse rt end of needle about 1/4 inch deep in the muscle and slowly depress plunger all the way.
◦When you withdraw: Pull the needle out quickly and press a finger on the injection hole for a minute to prevent leaking of blood or medicine. Gently press down and massage muscle to help medicine spread well and to help minimize soreness.
Treat with Penicillin
Poultry should be treated with "short-acting" Penicillin (such as Penicillin G), not "long-acting," 48-hour Penicillin (such as Penicillin G Procaine).
Supplies you will need:
◦Small bottle of Penicillin (~$11) -- Must be stored in refrigerator
◦At least one 2-cc size syringes (20 cents)
◦At least one 16-gauge needle (15 cents). 1/2 inch length is best but longer is alright.
◦One 20-gauge or 22-gauge needle for each injection you'll be giving (15 cents). 1/2 inch length is best but longer is alright as long as you don't push into chicken too far.
To prepare shot:
1.Remove Penicillin bottle from frig and allow to reach room temperature (Wait 15-30 mins.).
2.Attach 16-gauge needle to end of syringe, for drawing out medicine.
◦Don't use a smaller needle for this (Higher numbers like 20-gauge or 24-gauge are smaller needles) because the large particles in the medicine can't go through as well.
3.Very important: Shake bottle vigorously 2-4 mins. right before drawing out medicine.
◦Penicillin has large heavy particles that need to be floating so they go into your syringe.
4.Push needle into top of bottle; then turn it upside-down so syringe is below bottle.
5.Pull back the plunger on syringe until medicine reaches mark 1/8 cc more than amount you want.
6.Turn bottle right-side up and withdraw needle.
7.Hold syringe with needle pointing up. Pull 16-gauge needle off the end.
8.On end of syringe, attach 20 or 22-gauge needle for making the injection.
◦Some Penicillin particles may not make it through this smaller needle, but enough will. A larger needle would be too damaging for the small size of a chicken.
9.Give injection, following instructions in previous "Give Injection" section.
◦Giving intramuscularly will get medicine circulating in system soonest and is recommended for Penicillin. You can choose to give subcutaneously. Don't give in vein.
■Intramuscular Penicillin injections are very painful for people, cats, and some other animals, but do not seem to be for chickens.
Dose is 0.20 cc (ml) [=a little less than 1/4 cc] per day for a standard-size chicken. Range of safety is good: up to 1/2 cc occasionally won't generally hurt the chicken.
◦For severe infections, it helps to split the dose in half and give twice a day for the first 2-3 days, so chicken gets Penicillin more frequently added into body.
If Penicillin is a problem for you, do not eat eggs or meat from chicken for a while after treatment.
((http://sites.google.com/a/larsencreek.com/chicken-orthopedics/leg-braces))-link where the info was found
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #6
Thanks for the info.
Just a few of my two cents:
As far as people go, more people have allergic reactions to PCN than any other antibiotic. I would watch your chicken after administering. EVERY TIME you administer. For at least 10-15minutes. You can have an allergic reaction to PCN even if you have had it 100 times, the 101 time may just be THAT time!
Also, if administering in the muscle, you should inject the needle into the muscle, and before pushing the plunger in (which would be giving the med) PULL BACK ON PLUNGER to ensure you are not in a vessel. If you do see blood when you pull back, you should withdraw the needle and start completely over (mixing and all). If you don't see blood, then you can push the plunger and administer the medication.
WOW, amazing to think about giving my chicken an injection. With the feathers and all, it just seems a little difficult. Hope I never have to.......
As far as people go, more people have allergic reactions to PCN than any other antibiotic. I would watch your chicken after administering. EVERY TIME you administer. For at least 10-15minutes. You can have an allergic reaction to PCN even if you have had it 100 times, the 101 time may just be THAT time!
Also, if administering in the muscle, you should inject the needle into the muscle, and before pushing the plunger in (which would be giving the med) PULL BACK ON PLUNGER to ensure you are not in a vessel. If you do see blood when you pull back, you should withdraw the needle and start completely over (mixing and all). If you don't see blood, then you can push the plunger and administer the medication.
WOW, amazing to think about giving my chicken an injection. With the feathers and all, it just seems a little difficult. Hope I never have to.......
- Thread starter
- #9
Good info. Its funny cuz I use to get light headed when I saw a needle but now I give Mareks and Tylan and what ever shot or vaccination I need to. For me its easier to give them on my bigger birds but the day old seramas are a pain in the butt!
Thanks so much for all the info. All good to know!!
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