Veterinary Drug Knowledge | Key Points for Using Poultry Medications and Group Administration Methods

I. Group Administration Method

1. Oral Administration via Drinking Water: This method is generally used for drugs that are easily soluble in water. The drug solution is dissolved in water, and the poultry are allowed to drink it freely. It is currently a commonly used method, especially suitable for large-scale medication administration. Under normal circumstances, the following can be adopted:

(1) The “free-choice drinking method”: Administer the medication based on 2/3 of the daily water requirement over a 24-hour period, allowing the animal to drink freely. After finishing the medication, provide an additional 1/3 of fresh drinking water.

(2) The “water-drinking medication method” involves stopping water supply to the flock for 1–2 hours, then providing drinking water mixed with medication at a rate of 1/5 of the birds’ total daily water requirement, ensuring that they consume the entire amount within one hour. It is prohibited to administer medication directly into running water to avoid uneven drug concentrations.

2. Mixed-feed administration: The drug is evenly mixed into the feed, allowing poultry to consume it freely. This method is suitable for long-term medication or for drugs that are not water-soluble. A commonly used technique is the “stepwise dilution method”: First, mix the drug with a small amount of feed until thoroughly combined; then add this mixture to 10 times its volume of feed and continue mixing in steps, gradually increasing the amount of feed until the entire batch is uniformly mixed.

3. Aerosol administration: This is a method of administering medication by atomizing it into tiny droplets, which are then inhaled by poultry through their respiratory tract. It is particularly well-suited for the treatment of respiratory diseases.

4. Disinfection of Chickens: Use disinfectants with low irritation levels and carry out thorough disinfection throughout the chicken house—including the ceiling, walls, floor, equipment, and the chickens themselves—while the chickens are present. Generally, the dosage should be no less than 25 ml per cubic meter of space. In summer, disinfection can be performed once daily; in spring and autumn, once every 3 to 5 days; and in winter, once weekly.

II. Key Points for the Use of Poultry Medicines

(1) General Principles of Medication

1. Accurate diagnosis and proper understanding of indications.

2. Make an accurate diagnosis and understand pharmacology; administer treatment promptly and prescribe medication according to the symptoms.

(2) Ensure accurate measurement and complete the full course of treatment.

1. Measurement that is too small is ineffective; measurement that is too large is toxic and increases costs.

2. The dosage of the same medication varies depending on the disease being treated.

3. For the same drug, different routes of administration require different dosages.

4. The typical treatment course is 3–5 days; however, for certain chronic conditions, such as infectious rhinitis, treatment should last at least 7 days to prevent recurrence.

(3) When administering medication via drinking water, consider the drug’s solubility, the volume of drinking water, the drug’s stability, and the water quality.

1. The concentration of the drug administered via drinking water is half that used when mixed with feed.

2. Properly restricting water intake before administration can help enhance the drug’s effectiveness. For example, doxycycline is easily degraded in water, so it’s advisable to restrict water for 2–3 hours and then have the animal drink the entire amount within 2–3 hours.