The Many Uses of Vet Rx
by Meghan H
Published June 28, 2021
If you’ve owned chickens for any length of time, you may have already discovered that they can contract a staggering number of illnesses. We chicken keepers are constantly on the watch for any sniffles, sneezes, coughs or other signs that something may be amiss within our flocks.
One of the most popular products for poultry upper respiratory health and wellness is Vet Rx. I like to think of it as the “Vicks Vaporub” of the poultry medicine chest. Vet Rx was first developed in 1874 as a product to be used on children to treat croup. Today, the poultry formulation is widely used by many to support a healthy respiratory system in backyard chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese and game birds.
Please keep in mind that Vet Rx is not intended to treat an active illness, only to offer relief of symptoms and for general wellness. If you have a serious illness in your flock where you have birds that are not eating, are not active, are obviously in severe distress or you are experiencing losses, please contact a veterinarian immediately. No information given here is intended to diagnose or treat an illness within your flock.
Perhaps the most important thing to remember about use, is that it must be used warm. When mixed with warm water or kept warm, it flows smoothly and is much easier to work with. If mixed with cool water, Vet Rx will float on top of the water and is harder to use.
The Many Uses of Vet Rx
To help alleviate respiratory symptoms in your chickens, there are several ways that Vet Rx can be used. You can mix it into a spray bottle of very warm water and mist it over your flock, or apply full strength to individual birds by placing a drop directly into their mouth. You can also apply a drop or two topically to individual birds by placing a drop onto your hands and then rubbing it onto the bird’s head and under its wings. Vet Rx can also be used in drinking water. Even though it will float on the surface of the water, when the birds get a drink the Vet Rx will get onto the beaks to help alleviate the respiratory symptoms.
Feed Additive
Perhaps the easiest way to use Vet Rx is by mixing it into the feed. Pour an entire bottle into 3 quarts of feed that is at room temperature. Let the mixture stand for 2 weeks, then feed 1 Tablespoon per 20 birds into the flock’s daily ration. Stir the treated feed into the regular feed very well so the chickens don’t pick it out.
Show Prep
Vet Rx can also be used as a comb, wattles and leg dressing to bring out a natural lustre for show animals. It really makes the red stand out in the comb and wattles and gets your show bird noticed. It will also help prevent and treat dryness on the legs and toes of birds.
Litter Dressing
You can also sprinkle a few drops of Vet Rx directly onto the coop litter to fill the coop with the vapors and benefit the entire flock at once.
We hope you find the many uses of Vet Rx to be a useful product to have in your poultry first aid kit or show prep supplies. Do you use Vet Rx in another way not mentioned above? Tell us about it in the comments.
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Sorry for long email…
My turkey (1 year) has had wheezy cough for a week or so…none of other chicks or turkey has it.
She lives out, but now spends lots of time in coup…before she was out most of day.
Still eating and drinking. Laying eggs.
No discharge from eyes or mouth.
Have just started Flubinvet on them all …vet thinks gapeworm but not convinced.
Just received vetrx and put directly into mouth and some in drinking water.
Advise please!
How long before either Flubinvet or vetrx begins to help?
Vet will come out but cost + tests probably £100 + so prefer to try myself…anyway vets no good with birds around me!
Thanks
Thank you for reaching out with your concerns. From my understanding, with both vetrx and flubinvet you should see improvement within a few days.
Unfortunately, we’re unable to provide medical advice for liability reasons. There are lots of respiratory infections that can cause coughing in turkeys. We would usually recommend reaching out to your local extension office for assistance, but since it appears you’re outside the United States, we recommend consulting with a local avian veterinarian or an expert in bird health. They can provide the best guidance and support for your turkey’s health issues and be able to instruct you on whether antibiotics may be needed in addition to the flubinvet.
We hope your turkey feels better soon!
I have two ice reds. They are both 3 1/2 years old each one has one eye swollen. I am thinking that it is a sinus thing. Could I use the vet RX with warm water to help alleviate?
Hi Laurie! I’m sorry to hear your birds are not feeling well. VetRx can be used for respiratory issues. It is hard to say for sure whether it would be helpful in this case, since there are lots of variables. For medical advice we definitely recommend reaching out to an experienced avian vet in your area or getting in contact with your local extension office. I hope your birds mend quickly!
I have a hen who fell off her nesting box. She fell on her side. She hasn’t eaten or drank any water and My husband and I had to bring her on last night. Bath her because she was hot. And kept her in our house. This morning she was doing better but still refuses to eat or drink. Any suggestion?
Hi Lisa – I’m sorry to hear your hen isn’t feeling well. Sounds like she may have fallen because she is ill. You did the right thing bringing her in and separating her from the flock. I would check her over for external parasites and offer her some cooked egg or even some raw egg yolk. You can dip her beak in the yolk. Also offer her some water with vitamins/electrolytes, you can dip her beak in that too. If you have a local avian veterinarian, that would be my next suggestion. I hope she feels better soon!
Our hen is not moving as much as usual and feels cool to the touch, she is still alert just not herself. She is around 2.5 years old but we don’t see anything visually wrong and don’t see any breathing issues. Any ideas what we can do for her?
Hi Nancy – I’m sorry to hear your hen is struggling. I would recommend bringing her inside and separating her from the flock. Provide warmth and vitamins/electrolytes in her water. You can do a physical exam and inspect her for external parasites. I hope she is able to recover!