Meds to stay away from

Metronidazole, Ronidazole, Tinidazole and any -zole antiprotozoal medication. They are illegal to use in food producing species in the United States and carry a lifetime egg withdrawal if used. The FDA considers ALL poultry a food producing species, even if you consider them “pets”. This is PROHIBITED for both male and female birds of ALL food producing animals: chickens, ducks, geese, turkey, quail, Guineas and all other poultry classified birds.

Baytril Not using baytril in poultry has nothing to do with eating the birds, or eggs and everything to do with protecting people from a drug resistant bacteria Campbylobacter that is very very very common. .Tap here for more info.

Diatomaceous Earth (DE). DE can cause serious respiratory issues to humans and chickens. Tap here for more info.

Blu-Kote/Red-Kote, scarlet oil OR similar products. These products are harsh on wounds, damage tissue and slow healing. Tap here for more info.

Sevin Dust, most Doktor Doom, and any pesticides not labeled for poultry. This includes all the topical flea and tick meds labeled for cats and dogs, all are illegal in the USA. Pesticides have no allowable off-label usage per the EPA. Tap here for more info.

Ivermectin Pour On as it is designed for cattle skin and can damage the thin skin of a chicken. Instead, our vets recommend Injectable Ivermectin, topically or orally.

Ivermectin – injectable form only. The pour on is too harsh on poultry skin and can damage it.
·Applied topically, 3-4 drops for standard size breeds, 1-2 drops for bantam breed.
·Orally 0.2mg/kg
·Injected sub cutaneous 0.2mg/kg, 3cc syringes with 22 gauge needles.
·8 week egg withdrawal

Horse Pastes as dewormers (Ivermectin, Safe-Guard, Panacur, Parziquantel, etc.): There is no way to know without thorough analysis that the drug is evenly distributed in the paste. Any given “pea-sized” blob could have way too much or way too little. Correct, accurate dosage cannot be determined and that’s the danger. Too little only promotes resistance and too much could be toxic.

Fish antibiotics and pet bird antibiotics, as many of them contain some medications in the same family as Baytril and Metronidazole and go against the new FDA regulations on prescription antibiotics.

Suprelorin, Deslorelin or any other hormone implants – hormone implants are illegal to use in poultry as they are a major food producing species. This includes both male and female birds of all species of poultry: chickens, ducks, geese, turkey, quail, Guineas and all other poultry classified birds. Extra Label Drug use (off label) is not allowed for food producing birds, *even if they are strictly pets.. Other countries may allow the use of hormonal implants, however this group is mainly US and we must adhere to FDA and US regulations.

Aspirin, Tylenol, Motrin, Ibuprofen and adjacent pain medications. By the time an effective dose is reached, liver and kidney damage can occur. Instead, our vets recommend metacam/meloxicam. Please reach out to your vet for a prescription, dosage and directions.

Colloidal Silver. There is not enough poultry specific information that studies the benefits vs. the risks. Silver Honey can be recommended: even though silver particles in silver honey are micro-particles as they are in colloidal silver, the SIZE of the particles in silver honey are much larger than colloidal silver. The larger size prevents them from being absorbed into the skin, they stay on the surface. The smaller silver particles do get absorbed in colloidal silver and that’s a problem.

PRID and any drawing salve that contains Ichthammol. The vets of this group recommend against using prid as it is caustic to their skin. The preferred ointment is Silver sulfadiazine cream (Rx only). OTC preferred ointment would be Bacitracin Zinc.

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV): By adding ACV (acetic acid) it lowers the amounts of good bacteria in the crop and digestive tract and there are not enough studies from actual poultry experts to show it has any health benefits. Additionally, when too much or not diluted enough, it can cause burns to the mouth and esophagus. ACV isn’t any more effective than regular vinegar, because the active cultures in the mother that require an aerobic (oxygen rich) environment are killed almost immediately in the anaerobic environment of a chickens crop.

Vet RX: VetRx is NOT a treatment for respiratory diseases. The majority of respiratory diseases CANNOT be cured (birds will remain lifelong carriers). Some of the symptoms may be managed with appropriate antibiotics and VetRx may alleviate some of the milder symptoms, but it is in no way an actual treatment. It is not regulated by the FDA and they have not found it to be safe or effective. When a product is not regulated by the FDA there is no way to guarantee the quality, efficacy and safety of the ingredients used.

Poly-vi-Sol with or without Iron – this is not an appropriate vitamin supplement for poultry. Poultry Cell or Nutri-drench may be used depending on shy supplementation is needed.

Yogurt/Milk – chickens do not have the enzymes necessary to digest lactose. In moderation it’s okay, but it’s best to go with lactose-free versions.

Toltrazuril and any compunt medication– as they must be individually compounded for the specific bird otherwise it has no allowable off-label usage.

Gasoline/WD-40, Kerosene, etc. for the treatment of scaly leg mites. The fumes are not safe for chickens.

Permethrin and Elector PSP dips/soaks. Both products must be applied as directed on the label – any deviation from the label nullifies the ZERO egg withdrawal and voids the manufacturer’s warranty, anything “claimed” by the manufacturer of a product of either spinosad or permethrin is claiming safety based on labeled use. Meaning, no Permethrin or Elector PSP dips. Please keep in mind Permethrin is highly toxic to cats.