Medicine Chart for Chickens & other Poultry
Info on this Chicken Medicine Chart is revised with updates periodically. Re-check for new info here each time you use a medicine.


CURRENT EVENTS:

Chlorine Dioxide has been used for years to sanitize coops and combat fungal infections and other diseases in chickens and turkeys.
To learn about using Chlorine Dioxide to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic, visit

CoronavirusAirMist.com
~ Pocket-size spray bottles as an ALL-SURFACE disinfectant and hand sanitizer ~ ~ Personal-size humidifiers to SANITIZE AIR wherever you are ~
~ Disinfecting rinses for your MOUTH and NOSE ~

Watch for our new, expanded Medicine Chart online by early 2022!
Offering more medications and details, new features, and an interactive Medication Dose Calculator!


Disclaimer: Information on this website is gathered from many sources by a lay individual. It may not be accurate or complete. It should not necessarily be considered expert advice. Some medicine uses below are off-label & not USDA-approved.. Use this site as a starting place to learn about possible medicines, so you can also look up specific information from other sources. Further advice from a veterinarian who has backyard chicken experience might be helpful.


This list of many medications for birds includes SOME information on diseases treated, treatment notes & places to buy, but is not comprehensive.
 - Medicine classes are noted to help identify more similar & very different drugs.


VERY IMPORTANT NOTES:

Visit the Health Problems section to explore tools for helping diagnose diseases and health problems.
It is important to diagnose your bird's disease as accurately as you can and learn about effective treatments, as well as learn specific instructions for any medication. Many websites have detailed information on diseases and other health problems.
However, very many times a description of a health condition you read about is not your bird’s correct diagnosis even when symptoms seem to match. Your bird’s condition may also be less serious than you initially think. USE STRONG PRECAUTION in choosing whether you should try medicines.

Make sure the medicine matches:
Type and strain of disease --- Try for best diagnosis of disease using lists of symptoms or relevant tests by a vet or lab (Find a lab by typing "vet diagnostic lab" & your state's name in a search engine). In some cases, a specific medicine is only effective or more effective for a specific strain of a disease. If you have the opportunity to get relevant lab tests done, these can help narrow down which meds may be best to treat your bird's particular strain of a disease.
Medicine classes are noted below to help identify more similar & very different drugs. If a medicine you use isn't effective enough and it becomes essential to use a second one, it is generally recommended that you choose one from a different class of medicines.
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Type, age and purpose of your bird --- Chick, Adolescent, Laying Hen, Rooster, Breeder, Meat Bird, or Pet
Species of your bird --- Chicken, Duck, Turkey, Goose, Pheasant, Pigeon, Quail, or Dove (or exotic bird). Some meds are safe for some species but damaging to others.
 
Make sure you find out correct administration:
Dose: Number of ounces, mg's, cc's (Note: 1 ml = 1 cc = 1/5 tsp), etc.
[Note: Doses listed below are generally for a 5 lb (2.27 kg) chicken]
Dosage Timing: Frequency and Duration  •  Medication Form: Powder, Pre-mixed Liquid, etc.
Administration Method: Orally thru Diabetic Syringe with needle removed or Eyedropper, Intramuscular Injection, Subcutaneous Injection, Mixed into Feed or Water, Applied on Skin, etc.

DO NOT OVER-TREAT! Try to appropriately limit medications, to minimize negative effects, including the problems listed below. However, do not under-treat, because that may allow bacteria or parasites to build resistance to meds and be harder to kill off later.
-- Loss of "good bacteria" in digestive tract: Some treatments can cause decreases in disease-fighting "good bacteria" so you also may want to help replace it by feeding probiotics found in powder from acidophilus of other supplements, or in buttermilk or unflavored yogurt. Probiotics are most commonly given after antibiotic treatment, but giving probiotics during treatment is also very beneficial, though administrations of probiotics and antibiotics should be spaced at least 2 hours apart..
-- Kidney Damage: Some medications (such as sulfa meds) can also build damage in kidneys, especially when used excessively. After treatment with medicine is complete, you can reduce risks by adding a little apple cider vinegar into drinking water (except during hot weather), and feeding kidney supportive foods (such as cooked kidney beans, watermelon, dandelion root [not leaves], fish oil, cabbage, red bell peppers, or cauliflower) to help reduce risks. Feeding lower-protein food for periods of a few days is also helpful.

PoultryPedia.com Medicine Chart


Additional Information on Medications

  • Extensive, detailed info on medications & dosing rates. http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/pharmacology.html.
    • Note: If you think a particular medication looks like it may be useful, but the medicine's description only mentions treatment for animals other than birds, also look up information through alternate sources.
      • The med may be one that IS actually used for birds in many situations, and some other websites do contain information on how it is used for birds,
      • OR it may be a med that is NOT safe or effective for birds.