Antibiotics and prescriptions for chickens: what changed
If you remember buying penicillin or tetracycline for chickens off the farm-store shelf, those days are over. Here's what changed, according to FDA.
January 2017: feed and water antibiotics moved under vet oversight
FDA reports that in January 2017, after its Guidance #213 and the Veterinary Feed Directive rule, medically important antimicrobials used in feed or water "cannot be used for production (e.g., growth promotion) purposes and may only be used under the authorization of a licensed veterinarian." Water-soluble products moved from over-the-counter to prescription, and feed products to "veterinary feed directive" status (FDA VFD fact sheet).
June 2023: the remaining over-the-counter antibiotics went prescription-only
Under FDA Guidance #263, all remaining medically important antimicrobials for animals, including injectables, moved to prescription status, with new labels from June 11, 2023 (FDA announcement; FDA GFI #263 FAQ). FDA's poultry stewardship sheet lists affected medications including lincomycin, penicillin, spectinomycin, sulfadimethoxine, tetracycline injectables and tylosin (FDA, Antibiotic Stewardship: Poultry).
What this means for you
- To get these drugs, you need a licensed vet with whom you have a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR). FDA notes the requirements "vary by state."
- FDA's FAQ: you don't necessarily have to buy the drug from the vet. With a valid prescription you may be able to buy it from other suppliers.
- Laying hens: ask the vet about egg withdrawal times before eating eggs from treated birds.
- This is why our directory tracks "will prescribe for poultry," and why it's worth setting up a vet relationship before an emergency.
Written 2026-10-21 from the public sources linked above. Not reviewed by a veterinarian yet.