Antibiotic For Chicks

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by Rhonda
(Arizona)

Question

Antibiotic For Chicks: I have 3 tiny baby chicks about 4 weeks old I bought some Duramycin-10 antibiotic to give them but am not sure how to measure it out.

The directions seem to be for making large quantities for flocks. Please help me figure out the right amount to mix with their drinking water.

I want to help them not hurt them! (one chick has watery eyes and is sneezing, and the other two have been sneezing with runny nose). I won't give them anything until I find out the right dose.

Answer
My first recommendation is none, unless you know they have a specific infection. It's vital young chicks are kept warm and away from drafts. Just as with humans, sicknesses takes hold when the immune system is not working properly.

The immune system relies on proper body temperature, not being over crowded, enough good water, exercise, clean environment, vitamins, minerals, sun exposure, fresh vegetables & fruits, proteins, amino acids, and other nutrients.

I would recommend that you check the chick feed for antibiotics. Many do have. Over using antibiotics makes them useless. I would make sure your chicks are warm enough and get exposed to sunshine, when possible.

I would check the vitamin content of their feed and look into supplementing with a good multivitamin, available at many feed stores.

I purchased a new flock combining 3 other flocks of adult birds. One day three hens from one group sneezed and coughed. I went to the feed store and all the antibiotics said I could not use the eggs for a while after dosing.

I hated to lose my wonderful eggs. Well, then another hen from another group started sneezing, so I went and bought vitamins with electrolytes and treated the whole flock for three days and the sneezing stopped. I treat once a month with vitamins now and all is well.

One problem with antibiotics is that they have a tendency to kill good digestive bacteria. This can affect the immune system, so it's important NOT to feed antibiotics unless you are fighting a specific infection.

There are many diseases birds can get, but I believe the solution to preventing disease is to make sure your birds are getting the best possible diet, including fruits and vegetables, vitamins and minerals, are well housed getting fresh air, clean water and are exposed to natural sunlight daily or whenever possible during winter months.

Hopefully it's not too late for your little chickens. Hopefully there is no disease in the environment they have been exposed to. Generally you need to know specifically what infection you are treating before you select an antibiotic. Viruses often don't respond to antibiotics.

If determined to use the antibiotic you can usually call the manufacturer and get more directions on how to dilute.