Question: We have been advised that if our broilers are sneezing we should treat with antibiotics. Our Houston show broilers are now two weeks old. We treated our birds for three days at day 8. Now at day 14 some still sneeze. Should we re-treat now? At what point should we withdraw antibiotics before the show? The antibiotic we are using is water soluble Agrilabs Oxytetracycline Hydrochloride.

Answer: Dennis,

Antibiotics are not designed to be used more than 7 consecutive days.

I would assume that the sneezing that you are seeing / hearing is a result of the vaccination the birds received at the hatchery. I would manage the temperatures and ventilation in the house to optimize the environment and allow the birds to naturally go through the vaccine reaction without the use of antibiotics.

If you see the birds gasping for air or acting like they are sick, the antibiotics are needed. If the birds are snickering, sneezing, coughing then they are only going through a vaccine reaction and you will see these symptoms subside by day 18 as long as you effectively manage your temperatures and ventilation in the house.

Take care,

Keith Staggs
Ambassador - Market Poultry
Honor Show Chow