POULTRY MEDICATION

Antibiotics
for now i am still a lay-man when it comes to poultry medication and have no qualifications in this field yet so this information should, naturally be taken as a 'view' and part of your overall research into what is best for your poultry.

A ntibiotics are a fairly common treatment given to poultry on prescription to treat a variety of infections. Baytril or Tylan are often given to chickens with respiratory problems for example (and seem to work well for this complaint) but what is the risk is to our health when we are using antibiotics in animals that are producing food for human consumption?
When we treat our egg or meat producing chickens (or any animal for that matter) with an antibiotic, it works by killing most of the bacteria that are responsible for the infection which helps them recover, but unfortunately it doesn’t just kill these bacteria. Antibiotics also kill many (but not all) of the naturally occurring bacteria that live in the chickens’ gut called campylobacter.

Breeding and Selection
If you breed poultry then you are probably aware of the term ‘selection process’. ‘Like breeds like’ is a common phrase you hear so by selecting birds with the best qualities, you get a greater number of offspring with your desired characteristics. By removing birds with undesirable qualities from the breeding pen, you are reducing the chances of more of the same thing appearing in future generations. Unfortunately, the same rules apply with bacteria. By killing many of the naturally occurring campylobacter in the chickens’ gut, we are leaving the campylobacter that are resistant to the antibiotic to multiply and as we know, ‘like breeds like’ we are essentially producing more antibiotic resistant bacteria. So why is this a problem? Well, if campylobacter gets into your body (from say contaminated meat), you’ll probably get a nasty case of food poisoning. When you see your doctor, he will prescribe an antibiotic that in fact is similar to the antibiotic used on your poultry. If enough resistance has built up in the campylobacter then (you’ve guessed it), it won’t be effective. This is simplified considerably and in reality, it is far more complex than this. Bacteria can pass genes between their species so other bad boys in the world of bacteria could acquire these genes. You can imagine how terrible the situation could become. Just as we created all of these wonderful pure breeds after years of selection, we might end up with a bacteria or ‘super bug’ that can’t be killed by any of the antibiotics doctors have at their disposal.
This evolution is a serious concern and you will read a good deal about antibiotic resistant bacteria in the news. It isn’t just the antibiotics used in poultry, it is livestock too and many a dairy is using antibiotics by the bucket-load to treat infection.
Baytril has been banned in US poultry production to try to slow down the evolution of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Baytril has a similar make-up to the human antibiotic Cipro. How long will it be before the UK follows I wonder? If you have unused antibiotics, remember they should not be tipped down the drain because much of the water we drink from the tap comes from recycled waste water. Some researches has certainly opened my eyes to the use of antibiotics in poultry and I have made a decision not to use antibiotics in future unless I absolutely have to.

Flubenvet 1%- 60g Packs For Worming Chickens

T he backyard poultry market is growing rapidly but many novice poultry owners are unaware of simple preventative health routines that can significantly improve the health and wellbeing of their birds.

Worms are not always visible and infection can be asymptomatic but worms can also affect egg quality and yield - fewer, smaller, paler, brittle eggs can result. Affected poultry can suffer ill thrift, anaemia and even death. The non-specific nature of the condition can make it hard for novices to identify.
Sources of Infection
Embryonated worm eggs resist disinfectants and can survive for years.
Sources include:
An infected bird excreting thousands of worm eggs daily Contaminated soil or litter material An intermediate host (wild bird, earthworm or beetle) Fomite transmission: footwear, equipment or other animals.

Free range and deep litter husbandry systems increase exposure to parasitic worms and may favour worm egg survival. Active infections of the common worms affecting poultry: Ascaridia (roundworms), Capilliaria (hairworms), Syngamus trachea (gapeworm), Heterakis (small roundworms) and Amidostomum anseris (gizzard worm) in geese need to be controlled through effective preventative and strategic de-worming
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Ivermectin - Used For Worms, Lice And Mites In Chickens

I vermectin is an anti-parasite medication, effective against most worms (not tapeworm), mites and some lice including scaly leg mite and northern fowl mite. Ivermectin pour-on / drops is applied to the skin.
Ivermectin Drops are usually sold under the Small Animal Exemption Scheme for use in rabbits, Guinea Pigs and ornamental birds. Products licensed under the Small Animal Exemption Scheme are not licensed for use in food producing animals such as chickens and it is for that reason that there is no information relating to the withdrawal period for eggs or meat following use of Ivermectin Drops on poultry . Where there is a licenced alternative, vets will prescribe the licenced product. To treat worms - Flubenvet is the (only) licenced in feed product.
In the absence of licensed alternatives, veterinarians do sometimes prescribe this product for poultry under their own clinical judgement to treat lice in poultry. However, it is only a veterinarian who can advise on such use and it would breach of the veterinary medicines regulations and NOAH code of practice by supporting, or encouraging the use of this product on a non- target species. It is for this reason that we are recommending that you seek the advice of your vet before purchasing and using Ivermectin on your chickens or other poultry. Avermectins are more toxic to waterfowl than chickens so this is particularly important if you are treating ducks or geese.
Uses: Sometimes prescribed by Vets to treat endoparasites (worms) and ectoparasites (lice and most mites including scaly leg mite). Remember red mite live in the house, so housing will require alternative treatment.
Formats available: Injectable, oral or drops for skin. Pour on drops are usually prescribed. Dosage: For the treatment of an existing infestation, repeat doses are required often weekly three times.
Egg Withdrawal period: As advised by Vet, depends on the strength of solution. Vets prescribing Ivomec Eprinex usually advise 7 days.
Slaughtering for meat for human consumption: As advised by Vet, depends on the strength of solution. Vets Prescribing Ivomec Eprinex usually advise 28 days.
Category: POM-VPS
Storage: In original packing below 25ºC and out of reach of children.
The information given here is the opinion of the authors and should not be considered as professional advice. Where there is conflicting information, you should always follow the advice of your vet.

Coxoid - Used To Treat Coccidiosis

C occidiosis is a disease caused by internal parasites called Eimeria. These live inside the cells that line the birds intestine. As they reproduce, they cause bleeding and swelling in the intestines. Birds lose a lot of liquid and cannot absorb nutrients from their food and will soon die if left untreated.
In the absence of licensed alternatives, veterinarians sometimes prescribe drugs such as Coxoid under the 'cascade' to treat coccidiosis in poultry. However, it is only a veterinarian who can advise on such use and we would be in breach of the veterinary medicines regulations and NOAH code of practice by supporting, or encouraging the use of a product on a non-target species.
Coxoid is marketed under the Small Animal Exemption Scheme which covers small domestic pets, including birds, however it is not intended for use with animals producing food. So for chickens producing eggs, it's only your vet who can advise you to use Coxoid in this way, in the absence of other suitable licenced products. Coxoid comes as a liquid that is administered diluted with drinking water.
Coxoid contains 3.84% of the drug amprolium hydrochloride which is a structural analogue of thiamine (vitamin B1). Amprolium hydrochloride mimicks it's structure, inhibiting thiamine utilisation by the parasite. The dilution rate of Coxoid to fresh drinking water is 1fl.oz per gallon (6.22ml per litre or 28ml per 4.5 litres). Coxoid is normally available in 2 sizes: 112ml and 500ml.
Coxoid should be given for 7 days. An improvement can be expected within 2 days. Do not allow birds to have access to unmedicated water during treatment. Store at room temperature.
Coxoid should not be used on birds that are intended for human consumption.

For more on poultry medication check http://poultrykeeper.com/poultry-medication/