Lincomycin (Livestock) is dosed at 2–4 mg/kg BW PO in water in chickens, per Newman L, Sander J, et al. Poultry drug use guide. In: Boulianne M, Brash ML, Fitz-Coy SH, et al. Avian Disease Manual, 7th ed., American Association of Avian Pathologists, Jacksonville, FL; 2013:263-267. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.623 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 6.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Backyard Poultry, Gamebirds, and Waterfowl.a,b). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Backyard Poultry Medicine and Surgery — ISBN 9781119511755, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781119511755. Lincomycin (Livestock) is used in chickens for Necrotic enteritis. Routes documented in chickens: PO. A typical adult chicken weighs 0.50–5.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Lincomycin (Livestock) in chickens, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Lincomix
Contraindicated in Mouse, Pet Rat, Gerbil, Prairie Dog, Horse (Equine), Cattle / Sheep / Goat, Rabbit, Chinchilla, Hamster, Degu, Guinea Pig
Mouse: Lincosamides cause fatal diarrhea in MousePlumb's states of the lincosamides: "Do NOT give this medicine to horses, cattle, sheep, goats, deer, rabbits, mice, rats, hamsters, or guinea pigs, as it may cause fatal diarrhea," and elsewhere that "the lincosamides are considered contraindicated for use in horses, ruminants, rabbits." The mechanism is the same selective destruction of gram-positive gut flora that kills rabbits. Added 2026-08-11 after an audit found this species unreachable by any token, so this warning could never fire for it.
Pet Rat: Lincosamides cause fatal diarrhea in Pet RatPlumb's states of the lincosamides: "Do NOT give this medicine to horses, cattle, sheep, goats, deer, rabbits, mice, rats, hamsters, or guinea pigs, as it may cause fatal diarrhea," and elsewhere that "the lincosamides are considered contraindicated for use in horses, ruminants, rabbits." The mechanism is the same selective destruction of gram-positive gut flora that kills rabbits. Added 2026-08-11 after an audit found this species unreachable by any token, so this warning could never fire for it.
Gerbil: Lincosamides cause fatal diarrhea in GerbilPlumb's states of the lincosamides: "Do NOT give this medicine to horses, cattle, sheep, goats, deer, rabbits, mice, rats, hamsters, or guinea pigs, as it may cause fatal diarrhea," and elsewhere that "the lincosamides are considered contraindicated for use in horses, ruminants, rabbits." The mechanism is the same selective destruction of gram-positive gut flora that kills rabbits. Added 2026-08-11 after an audit found this species unreachable by any token, so this warning could never fire for it.
Prairie Dog: Lincosamides cause fatal diarrhea in Prairie DogPlumb's states of the lincosamides: "Do NOT give this medicine to horses, cattle, sheep, goats, deer, rabbits, mice, rats, hamsters, or guinea pigs, as it may cause fatal diarrhea," and elsewhere that "the lincosamides are considered contraindicated for use in horses, ruminants, rabbits." The mechanism is the same selective destruction of gram-positive gut flora that kills rabbits. Added 2026-08-11 after an audit found this species unreachable by any token, so this warning could never fire for it.
Horse (Equine): Lincosamides cause fatal diarrhea in Horse (Equine)Plumb's states of the lincosamides: "Do NOT give this medicine to horses, cattle, sheep, goats, deer, rabbits, mice, rats, hamsters, or guinea pigs, as it may cause fatal diarrhea," and elsewhere that "the lincosamides are considered contraindicated for use in horses, ruminants, rabbits." The mechanism is the same selective destruction of gram-positive gut flora that kills rabbits. Added 2026-08-11 after an audit found this species unreachable by any token, so this warning could never fire for it.
Cattle / Sheep / Goat: Lincosamides cause fatal diarrhea in Cattle / Sheep / GoatPlumb's states of the lincosamides: "Do NOT give this medicine to horses, cattle, sheep, goats, deer, rabbits, mice, rats, hamsters, or guinea pigs, as it may cause fatal diarrhea," and elsewhere that "the lincosamides are considered contraindicated for use in horses, ruminants, rabbits." The mechanism is the same selective destruction of gram-positive gut flora that kills rabbits. Added 2026-08-11 after an audit found this species unreachable by any token, so this warning could never fire for it.
Rabbit: Oral lincosamides cause fatal dysbiosis in rabbitsSame mechanism as oral beta-lactams — selective destruction of gram-positive hindgut flora. Never administer oral clindamycin or lincomycin to rabbits.
Chinchilla: Oral lincosamides cause fatal dysbiosis in chinchillasClindamycin and lincomycin destroy gram-positive hindgut flora and precipitate fatal Clostridium enterotoxemia in chinchillas. Never administer.
Hamster: Oral lincosamides cause fatal enterocolitis in hamstersClindamycin and lincomycin are among the antibiotics that induce fatal Clostridium difficile enterocolitis in hamsters. Never administer.
Degu: Oral lincosamides risk fatal dysbiosis in degusExtrapolated from chinchillas and guinea pigs (shared caviomorph hindgut physiology): oral clindamycin/lincomycin should be treated as contraindicated in degus.
Guinea Pig: Oral lincosamides cause fatal dysbiosis in guinea pigsClindamycin and lincomycin cause the same fatal Clostridium enterotoxemia in guinea pigs as oral beta-lactams. Never administer.
Newman L, Sander J, et al. Poultry drug use guide. In: Boulianne M, Brash ML, Fitz-Coy SH, et al. Avian Disease Manual, 7th ed., American Association of Avian Pathologists, Jacksonville, FL; 2013:263-267. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.623 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 6.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Backyard Poultry, Gamebirds, and Waterfowl.a,b). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Backyard Poultry Medicine and Surgery — ISBN 9781119511755, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781119511755
Inhibits bacterial protein synthesis by binding to the 50S ribosomal subunit. Effective against gram-positive organisms and Mycoplasma spp.
Side effects & warnings
Swine use primarily. Do NOT administer to ruminants, horses, or rabbits — causes fatal enterocolitis. Observe meat withdrawal periods.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for chickens may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Frequently asked questions
What is the dose of Lincomycin (Livestock) for Chickens?
Lincomycin (Livestock) dose range in chickens, with cited source references: PO 2–4 mg/kg BW in water. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
How is Lincomycin (Livestock) administered in Chickens?
Documented routes for Lincomycin (Livestock) in chickens: PO.
How long is Lincomycin (Livestock) given in Chickens?
Cited course lengths for Lincomycin (Livestock) in chickens include: 7 days. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
What conditions does Lincomycin (Livestock) treat in Chickens?
Lincomycin (Livestock) is indicated in chickens for: Necrotic enteritis.
What are the side effects of Lincomycin (Livestock) in Chickens?
These are general warnings for Lincomycin (Livestock) across species; consult the chicken dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Swine use primarily. Do NOT administer to ruminants, horses, or rabbits — causes fatal enterocolitis. Observe meat withdrawal periods.
Why a species-specific page? Lincomycin (Livestock) 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.
Lincomycin (Livestock) for Chickens — Dose, Routes, Citations | ExoticRx