Turkey poult with watery eyes can I give amoxicillin?

[crosbygroup]

I have 4 three week old turkey pouts. One of them has watery eyes and it seems to be getting a little worse each day. It is eating and drinking like the others, but its eyes are watery. The breathing seems fine, maybe a little congested like a stuffy nose.

Should I start them on antibiotics of some type? I have amoxicillin left over, but the feed store is close so I can go and get what ever you all say is best.

 

[ivan3]

I'd separate this one from the others. Are these turks from a hatchery, feedstore or breeder? Do you have chooks/turk flock(s) already? Pays to play it safe and wash hands really well, etc. Tylan (Tylosin) is the commonly used antibiotic for respiratory bugs.

Advanced search: "Tylan AND turkey":

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ne...sort=relevance&order=descending&Search=SEARCH

I'd probably keep Tylan 50 handy. However, if this spreads to the others I'd cull one and have it tested. Hope the affected poult improves without antibiotics.

Good luck!

 

[crosbygroup]

Thanks Ivan3 - they are from a breader and are totally away from my chickens. They are currently in a guest bathroom in a big RubberMaid bin.

 

[Lagerdogger]

I would also isolate the bird, but I would skip the antibiotics and see if it gets better on its own. Most of the time they will. If it gets better, then you probably don't have to worry about it if the other ones show symptoms later. If you treat it and it gets better, you will think you have to treat all of them whenever they cough, sneeze, water, or have a bad day, even if the antibiotics were not needed. To me, its worth the risk of one bird to avoid using antibiotics.

I will admit that this has its risks. But many times antibiotics are used to casually, and excessive antibiotics leads to resistant bugs.