When to give antibiotics?

[DEBRA56]

Our chickens are 1 yr 3 mo and healthy. Just wondering when and why you would give them antibiotics?

 

[NYREDS]

If at all not until they are ill. Personally I don't use them at all but I also don't remember the last time I had a sick chicken.

 

[cafarmgirl]

I don't give antibiotic's unless I know what I am treating. That would be for a serious injury with threat of infection or for a diagnosed illness.

 

[DEBRA56]

Thank you for your reply

 

[speckledhen]

I would never use antibiotics for anything that is a contagious respiratory infection. If I was 100% positive I was dealing with a situational pneumonia in one bird, I would possibly use Tylan injectible, but if mine ever had anything contagious, the bird would be euthanized, no ifs, ands or buts.

I keep injectible penicillin for reproductive infections like egg yolk peritonitis in laying hens or for serious injuries.

 

[DEBRA56]

Thank you for your reply. I particularily like the statement that you would "euthanize" your hen if something were very wrong or contagious! One of mine got caught under a fence and had an ugly large open gaping wound on her back. I tended to it best I could and brought her in the house where it was quite. She definately was in shock. One of our chicken people told me to wring her neck or drown her as they do not do well with shock. I told her she was out of her mind if she thought I would do that! Chick died in the night:-( At least she was warm and quite.