what is the ratio antibiotic to water?

[sunflowerenvy]

my chick are less than 2 weeks old. i notice when i got them home from the store their poop was runing
.
I got some tetracycline hydrochoride soluble powder antibolic i have a 1 quart water bottle feeder . how much antibolic do i mix with the water. and do i change the water every day or wait it get down. i change the bedding twice a day
thanks
laura

 

[underground chickenman]

Personally, I wouldn't give them any antibiotics. I would give them some Quik Chik or other electrolyte, starter crumbles of a good quality (I like Purina Start n Grow) and let them settle down for a day before making any decisions on medication. Shipped and feed store chicks will often have runny stools right after you get them (keep an eye out for pasty butt, but just clean them up gently with a warm water sponge bath on the tush, don't medicate them..yet), and is often caused by stress or by being chilled. Eliminate those two conditions and they will probably be fine. If it doesn't clear up after a day or so, or if they are not acting normally, you can look into whether they need medication.

Also, it is important to note that runny poo is not necessarily diarrhea or even evidence of an illness. Some of their poops, about every 8th to 10th one, is a ceacal poop, which is brown, runny, smelly and completely normal.

UGCM

 

[trilyn]

You don't need to give the antibiotics to the chicks, save that for a real emergency. UGCM is right, every 10 poops is a cecal poop, which is a brown runny poop and it stinks. If you really want to give them something, try organic apple cider vinegar, this will help their digestive system and will help too with pasty butt. My birds have all been raised with it and I've started all my new chicks on it. Great stuff and easily found in any health food store or grocery store with a health food section. It needs to be organic and have the mother in it, Braggs is a great brand. If you start out young chicks on antibiotics, someday later on in their life when they really need it, they will have a resistance to it and where will you be then? Just a thought! Also, one capful per quart of water. 2 tbsps per gallon of water.

Change the water daily, and make sure it is lukewarm for the first couple of weeks. Ice cold water is a shock to their tiny systems.

 

[sunflowerenvy]

thank you very much for the information i am glad that i came to this forum to learn more

trilyn -
how long do u put the organic apple cider vinegar, in their water for.? yes 1 of them have a pasty butt too. they are take turns in have it. I wipe it off. if it dry on i soak it in warm water to my touch and dry it off and hold the chick until the butt drys lol.

underground chickenman- the TSC sell me ChicK Starter 24% food for the chick btw i still have home in Cocoa, fl.

 

[trilyn]

Quote:
I never stop using the organic apple cider vinegar! All my birds of all ages get it. I just use the 2 tbsps per gallon of water for everyone. I mix it up in a gallon milk jug and go to town! Good job soaking the pasty butts, sometimes that's the only way to get it off. You can also add a sprinkle of chick grit to their feed, this helps with pasty butt also. Good luck with your babies!

 

[speckledhen]

First, the best policy is to NEVER give antibiotics to any bird for anything other than a wound or inner infection, never runny poop or respiratory illness, nothing. Watch for cocciodiosis (hunched shoulders, bloody/mucousy poop, etc) and treat for that, but antibiotics are unnecessary for birds most of the time.