Killer Mistakes Most Poultry Farmers Make - Okuta Ngura

I have noted that most poultry farmers misuse antibiotics especially Fosbac, Tylodoxy, Doxytylo, Neoxyvital, Egocin, Vetoxy, Biotrim, Biosol, and ESB3 30% without a vet's prescription.

Why should you give such a strong drug to day-old chicks? Antibiotics should be used under the supervision of a vet. Fosbac is a very strong antibiotic containing Fosfomycin and Tylosin among others.

This makes it a very strong drug. Chick's kidneys and liver are very fragile, and these strong antibiotics take long to be excreted from the liver and kidneys, therefore causing damage.

When chicks are healthier you would rather use probiotics and liver tonics such as Livergen and Bedgen instead of antibiotics. Probiotics help the chick's body by killing harmful bacteria in the gut thus promoting immunity, faster growth and a healthy bird.

Day-old chicks should be given mild (less strong) antibiotics such as Alamycin chick (5% tetracycline plus vitamins) or rather plain multivitamins plus Probiotics and Liver Tonics such as Livergen.

N/B: Always consult a vet if in doubt. Vets are there to guide farmers.

Another thing; Fosbac Plus T should NEVER be given to birds that are laying because the withdrawal period is not known. If you read on the package of Fosbac Plus T, this is well indicated.

NEVER give sulphur drugs to laying birds. Sulphur drugs cause low egg production. Am example of sulphur antibiotics are ESB3 30%, Biosol and Biotrim Vet among others.

Most of these antibiotics have now become useless as they don't respond to infections as a result of overuse and misuse by farmers and vets alike. Disease resistance in both humans and animals is a result of antibiotic misuse and overuse.

You don't have to rush for antibiotics anytime your bird dozes off it could even be resting. You don't have to rush for antibiotics every time you spot a 'yellow' stool or watery stool in your birds it could even be as a result of diet or excess protein in feeds.

When your birds are 'snoring' it's not time for Tylodoxy it could even be ammonia accumulation as a result of poor ventilation or wet litter. Rely on a vet we won't harm you neither will we fleece you off your hard-earned cash (isn't that the fear among farmers)?

It is always important to talk to your vet in order to receive the best prescription for your birds. Let's avoid disease resistance by putting antibiotic use to a minimum.