Antibiotic Overuse in Our Farm Animals - important story

[Tweeza]

Quote:
Judymae, can I email you or PM you with information about how to get out of the vacinations in our state?

 

[Tweeza]

I would like some opinions on giving vitamins and electrolytes when the chickens are sick. It just seems like a good idea but I've not heard this mentioned. Do any of you seasoned chicken keepers do this?

 

[Chicken Fruit]

Quote:
Judymae, can I email you or PM you with information about how to get out of the vacinations in our state?

You should just send it to her anyway. There is no state or local government that can without a doubt refuse your child admittance to school without vaccines. Theres always a loop hole.

That chicken pox vaccines just sends up all sorts of red flags for me.

I am not supposed to be alive due to a vaccine malfunction in the 80's when I was little. I languished for 7 days with meningitis before I received care (my doctors assured my parents i was fine and above all not to take me to anyone else but him) and laid dying for almost another 2 weeks after in childrens hospital.

Oh sure, they INSISTED for years it was a safe vaccine. Cocky doctors.

 

[speckledhen]

My birds wont drink water with V&E in it. A better addition to water IMO would be a complete vitamin and mineral supplement like Avia Charge 2000. You can overdo electrolytes if used regularly, though in an emergency, you certainly could. However, if it prevents them from drinking the water, best to add the Avia Charge supplement.

 

[Chicken Fruit]

Electrolites, in all honesty, is just sodium and bicarbonate... and a couple other items, chloride and potassium. In a pinch some warm sugar water with a little baking soda in it works.

or so I am told.

 

[colby318]

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I sell my eggs so I can't use antibiotics. Some people are very allergic to tetracyclines! The last thing I want to do is send someone to the hospital because of drug residues in my eggs. I cull any seriously sick bird.

 

[Beekissed]

I'm with Speckledhen on the opinion that no one really wants to hear about it! Folks get really up in arms on here when you suggest culling. I don't use medication of any kind and I wouldn't even for a resp. infection. I've not had to cull for illness in all the years I've raised chickens off and on. I cull for bad traits and for nonlaying.

I can't see why that would be any different than culling for weak immune systems. Who in the world would want to breed immunity weaknesses into their backyard flock? Farmers do it all the time with beef and sheep.....they weed out the barren, parasitic prone, sickly ones. Its just good common sense and good business.

Its the natural way of the animal kingdom, who have gotten by very well without man's intervention for thousands of years. Just like us to think we can improve on God's design!

 

[chickiebaby]

still hoping that Katy, Speckled Hen, or someone equally wise and with mucho experience and credibility might join me in writing this up . . .

 

[Beekissed]

Use some unpasteurized ACV for your electrolytes and probiotics. Just put some in the drinking water....its a great immune system booster!

 

[Keltie]

Hi folks, I've found this thread incredibly helpful. I AM that newbie who posted about a chicken with bubbly eye and immediately was told to treat with antibx. My human health approach is avoid these unless they are crucial, so feels reassuring to know the same approach isn't irresponsible with my chickens. I have her separated, put ACV in her water, and am flushing her eye and beak with saline 3 times/day. I'll continue to monitor...if it goes away quickly perhaps I'll let her rejoin the flock, but if not may consider culling as I'm not sure I want the rest to get crd. I'm not breeding any of them, just keeping them corvette for my household and neighbors/friends, so wonder if crd is such a huge deal?