Livestock · Gallus gallus domesticus · typical adult weight 0.50–5.00 kg
Doxycycline is dosed at 20–50 mg/kg PO q24h x 3-7 days in chickens, per Greenacre, C.B., Luna, G.L., and Morishita, T.M. (2018). Backyard poultry and waterfowl. In: Exotic Animal Formulary, 5e (ed. J.W. Carpenter), 377-432. St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier. — Mined from Greenacre & Morishita, Backyard Poultry Medicine and Surgery, 2nd Ed, p.588 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW). Doxycycline is used in chickens for Bacterial infection, Bacterial infection / chlamydiosis. Routes documented in chickens: PO. A typical adult chicken weighs 0.50–5.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Doxycycline in chickens, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Vibramycin
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 20–50 mg/kg | q24h x 3-7 days | Bacterial infection | Moderate | Greenacre, C.B., Luna, G.L., and Morishita, T.M. (2018). Backyard poultry and waterfowl. In: Exotic Animal Formulary, 5e (ed. J.W. Carpenter), 377-432. St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier. — Mined from Greenacre & Morishita, Backyard Poultry Medicine and Surgery, 2nd Ed, p.588 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) |
| PO | 20 mg/kg | q24h x 4 days | Bacterial infection / chlamydiosis | Moderate | Anadón A, Martínez-Larrañaga MR, Díaz MJ, et al. Pharmacokinetics of doxycycline in broiler chickens. Avian Pathol. 1994;23:79-90. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.621 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) doi:10.1080/03079459408418976 |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your chicken's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Inhibits protein synthesis by binding to 30S ribosomal subunit, preventing aminoacyl-tRNA attachment.
Can cause esophageal strictures in cats if not followed by water. Photosensitivity. Avoid in pregnant animals (tooth discoloration in fetus).
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for chickens may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Doxycycline dose ranges in chickens, with cited source references: PO 20–50 mg/kg q24h x 3-7 days; PO 20 mg/kg q24h x 4 days. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Doxycycline in chickens: PO.
Doxycycline is indicated in chickens for: Bacterial infection, Bacterial infection / chlamydiosis.
These are general warnings for Doxycycline across species; consult the chicken dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Can cause esophageal strictures in cats if not followed by water. Photosensitivity. Avoid in pregnant animals (tooth discoloration in fetus).
Why a species-specific page? Doxycycline pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in chickens — the rules above are the citations specific to this species, not generic recommendations.
Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice.