Hi again. On my last post Haystack suggested treating my flock with Terramycin to prevent further deaths. I bought this today but wanted to make sure I knew what I was treating for and if I was using the correct antibiotic for the job.
I inspected my flock further and noticed several (mostly Araucanas) had wet looking patches under their face. I picked up the wetest looking one (she had wet marks clear down to where her body curves under) and as she got nervous and breathed harder I could notice a wheeze!
So I looked up in my Chicken Health Handbook under respiratory diseases for weepy eyes or noses and I think I narrowed it down to Infectious Bronchitis. Now the only treatment for this is to add electrolytes to their water. But if it turns secondary into Air Sac Disease, then you should treat with antibiotics. It specifically says that tylosin or erythromycin is effective is started early enough and bacteria can be identified so ineffective drugs can be avoided!
Does this mean that I should not use Terramycin? Does anyone know the answer to this? If I don't us it, then it would be until tomorrow to find something else.....
Also my chickens are in an outside coop and it has been around freezing when I wake up in the am. This book also recommends keeping the birds warm and eating. Should I add heat lamps to the coop? Should I go as far as putting the more sick birds in the garage? Would this stress them more? (What about my stress???!!)
How can these feathered friends get us so ruffled when they are sick? It's like one of my kids is sick!!
Thank you in advance for any advice and support!! You guys are great!
Dead Araucana-Trying to save rest of flock-which antibiotic?
I'm not sure about the antibiotics--but I would keep them warm if you can.
Try the heat lamps and electrolytes -there are homemade electrolyte recipes out there -maybe even on that moonlit mile herbal link on the links thread or try http://fiascofarm.com/ Failing that, a good natural apple cider vinegar (ACV) in the meantime can't hurt.
found this:
1 liter boiled water (has to be cool)
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
mix well. lasts for 24 hours, after that, throw away the remainder
2 Tablespoons honey (or agave), 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp baking soda, and 4 cups water.
there are more with baking soda than without
Thank you for all of your help! I put a heat lamp in their coop and some fresh straw. Then I also gave them 1 Tbsp of Terramycin in gal of water. Boy those measurements are a little difficult!
I am bummed about the eggs. The package says don't eat animals products for 6 weeks after stopping treatment! I will have to buy some other farm eggs. I will try the electolytes tomorrow as well. I am also giving ACV already. I will have many water bowls! =} The antibiotic one is the only water they get while locked up at night, so I can make sure they are getting it.
I think someone (Silkie, maybe?) said no ACV while using antibiotics...don't know which thread...Dec 10-11 though
It was in the tail end of your other one -ACV neutralizes water based antibiotics, but not injected antibiotics. If you are ready to go with the AB, I'd hold off on the other. I was thinking more of what you could do while waiting to see about the AB. Hope this helps and hang in there!
This message was edited Dec 12, 2008 6:34 AM
I have used terramycin and tetracyclin for the symtoms that you have discribed. I think the dilution is 1 TBS per gallon. That's if you are using a powder. It is 2 TBS per gallon is using a liqued. I have lost many chickens do to respitory problems over the years and antibiotics are the only thing that has stopped it. I realize that not having eggs is tough but not having any chickens is worse. The only thing that I can think that the ACV does is make the body more acidic and bacteria may not survive in that environment well. I wouldn't recommend any solution with sugar. Bacteria thrives on suger that is why diabetics get infections so readily.
Dazey - if it is IB, that is a virus and antibiotics won't help with a virus. What they will help with is preventing secondary bacterial infections that can be a problem when a bird already has a compromised immune system from the IB virus. If the respiratory problem is not IB, it could be bacterial, and then the antibiotics will help. I have some hens with IB right now and I am using Aureomycin, 1 teaspoon per quart.
I believe if you do a search on Google for "terramycin egg withdrawal time" you will find it is more like 4 to 6 days, not 6 weeks. I believe the package directions cover things like eating the actual chicken as well. Some animals take longer to clear antibiotics than others. I use 2 weeks just to be sure, but you can Google it and make your own decision. Here is one article, for example, showing a 1 day withdrawal for detectable levels of oxytetracycline (same family as terramycin) after treatment.
http://ps.fass.org/cgi/content/abstract/78/3/343
If you or anyone in your family is allergic to tetracycline or other antibiotics, I would err on the side of caution with egg eating and wait at least 2 weeks for that person.