Jake Harper
Antibiotics are often used to treat injured chickens and waterfowls to prevent or stop infections. Penicillin is an antibiotic that is used to treat chickens with gangrenous dermatitis, a clostridial disease. It is also used to treat chickens with Pasteurella spp. and some gram-positive organisms. While it is possible to give chickens penicillin in the form of soluble powder from pill capsules or pieces of pill tablets, it is most often given by injection. This is because penicillin is very rough on the beneficial flora of the bird's digestive tract if administered orally.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Dosage | 125 mg per day for at least 3-4 days |
| Injection location | Breast meat or thigh |
| Injection depth | Less than 1/4 inch |
| Injection type | Intramuscular |
| Needle size | 20 gauge |
| Injection duration | Once a day for at least 3 days, 7 days is the limit |
| Alternative antibiotics | Penicillin G Procaine, Amoxicillin |
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What You'll Learn
Preparing the penicillin for injection
Firstly, it is important to obtain the correct dosage of penicillin for the chicken's body weight. This can be calculated by knowing the precise weight of the chicken. It is also important to note that penicillin powder for injection can be stored at room temperature (15-30°C), but once mixed with a diluent, it should be stored in the refrigerator (2-8°C) and used within 7 days to maintain stability.
Before drawing the medication into the syringe, shake the penicillin vial to ensure the solids at the bottom are mixed with the liquid. Uncap the syringe and pull out the plunger slightly. Then, insert the needle into the vial's rubber top and push the plunger to introduce air into the vial. Pull out the required dosage, and remove any air bubbles by tapping the syringe with your finger and gently pushing out the air. Recap the needle and allow the syringe to reach room temperature before refrigerating the vial.
It is crucial to use a new, sterile needle for each injection to maintain sterility and prevent infection. The needle size is also important; a larger needle is generally recommended due to the thickness of the penicillin solution.
By following these steps, you can prepare the penicillin for safe injection into the chicken's muscle, ensuring the chicken receives the precise dosage required for effective treatment.
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Choosing the injection site
When giving a chicken an injection, the best place to administer the shot is either in the breast meat or in the thigh. The breast is preferable, as there is a lot of meat, little bone, and few blood vessels.
To prepare the injection site, clean a spot far from the bone, in the middle of one half of the breast, with a small amount of alcohol on a tissue. This will sterilise the area, reducing the risk of infection. Ensure the area is dry before proceeding.
Once the area is prepared, you can begin the injection process. Uncap the syringe and insert the needle into the skin – less than ¼ inch. Pull the plunger first and look for blood. This step is crucial, as it ensures that you are not injecting into a blood vessel. If you see blood, withdraw the needle and move to a different injection site. If no blood appears, you can continue with the injection.
It is important to note that penicillin should only be injected into chickens under veterinary supervision or advice. While it can be an effective treatment for infections, it can also have negative side effects, and there may be more suitable antibiotic options available. Always consult a qualified avian veterinarian before administering any medication to your chicken.
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Injecting the penicillin
Injecting penicillin into a chicken requires a syringe and needle, and a bottle of penicillin. The first step is to prepare the syringe and needle. Remove the syringe from its packaging and unscrew the smaller needle. Screw on the larger needle, ensuring it is tight, and keep the cap on for now. Shake the bottle of penicillin to mix the solution, then uncap the syringe and push the needle into the bottle. Pull the plunger out to fill the syringe with penicillin, then tap the syringe to dislodge any air bubbles and push the plunger gently to remove the excess air. Recap the needle and allow the syringe to reach room temperature.
The chicken should be held securely, and the injection site cleaned with a small amount of alcohol on a tissue. The best place to inject the penicillin is in the breast meat, where there is plenty of muscle, little bone, and few blood vessels. The needle should be pushed into the skin, less than 1/4 inch, then the plunger should be pulled to check for blood. If blood is present, the needle is in a blood vessel, so the needle should be removed and the process repeated in a new location. If no blood is present, the plunger can be pushed, and the syringe removed.
The dosage of penicillin will depend on the weight of the chicken. A common dosage is 0.10cc per pound of body weight, injected into the breast muscle, alternating sides each time, once a day for at least 3 days, up to a maximum of 7 days.
It is important to note that some sources advise against giving injectable penicillin to chickens, as it can become toxic at the required doses.
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Dosage and frequency
The dosage for poultry or waterfowl weighing under 10 pounds is less than 0.25 mL if the penicillin is Penicillin G Procaine 300,000 I.U. This type of penicillin is given daily for no more than four days.
Penicillin is typically given to birds orally, but it can also be administered via injection. When administering penicillin via injection, it is important to ensure that the syringe is screwed on tightly and that there are no air bubbles in the syringe. The injection site should be in the muscle, either in the breast or thigh. It is important to clean the injection site and ensure that the needle is not in a blood vessel before administering the medication.
It is important to note that penicillin should only be used when necessary and under the guidance of a veterinarian. There are other antibiotic options that may be more suitable for treating chickens.
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Alternatives to injections
While injections are the most common method of administering penicillin to chickens, there are alternative ways to provide the medication. Here are some detailed instructions for alternatives to injections:
Oral Solution
Penicillin G potassium tablets and powder for oral solution are available. These should be stored at room temperature in tight containers, protected from moisture, and kept away from excessive heat. After preparing the solution, it should be refrigerated and consumed within 14 days. However, it is important to note that penicillin drugs can be harsh on the beneficial flora of the bird's digestive tract, so injections are often preferred.
Water-Soluble Antibiotics
While not from the penicillin range, there are water-soluble antibiotics available at local feed stores. These are typically used for respiratory illnesses and enteritis. However, it is difficult to ensure the bird receives the entire recommended dose when antibiotics are administered through shared drinking water.
Non-Antibiotic Coccidiostats
The FDA has approved the use of non-antibiotic coccidiostats, such as ionophores, to prevent intestinal disease in chickens. These medicines are not used in human medicine and help reduce the need for intensive medical treatment for fatal diseases.
Responsible Antibiotic Use
The responsible use of antibiotics in poultry is crucial to minimize antibiotic overuse and resistance. This includes using antibiotics only when necessary and following dosage instructions. Additionally, some chickens are raised without antibiotics, and those that require treatment are labeled accordingly.
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