[pushrod]

To buy a cheap general antibiotic for a sick cockerel. I would not not nomally bother but i am getting soft in my old age. I am fairly certain he got an infection through getting cuts in his foot from brambles. I'm prepared to try a few quid for him but not going to pay £20+ for a trip to the vet. He had a swollen foot that subsided but he is still very off colour and has not made the improvement i thought he would. Did do a few searches but couldn't filter out the general mass of links on feeding or not feeding antibiotics to flocks.

[Roughlee Handled]

To buy a cheap general antibiotic for a sick cockerel. ...........

Not with out a vets prescription.  You could ask you vet and see if they can help you with out the consultation charge.

[SarahJC]

You could ring around vets and ask their consultation charges. Mention its a chicken too. A weeks antibiotics cost me £12, but the consultation was £23. I'll try my usual vets if I need some again as he doesn't charge for consultations.

[snowflake]

Have you checked his feet just in case he has a thorn in his foot ? 

[hillfooter]

He could have a common problem called Bumble foot which effects the soft pad in the centre of their foot,  It can be treated without an antibiotic.  Try Googling it and you should find information on remedies you could try.  If the infection is too advanced it might though need an antibiotic and a trip to the vet.  Only you can tell how bad it is.
Regards

[nzdunn]

you might be lucky enough to get a consultation over the phone which will save you the trip to the vets, when i ring my vet up about my girlies she tends to give me the advice over the phone, antibiotics arnt that expensive, when my girls had the sniffles i only paid £2 for a course of baytrill, though dont quote me as i know vets prices vary.  I would say its definately worth a phone call to the vet anyways, good luck with your boy.   nickyx

[pushrod]

Thanks for the replies - will phone and see if the local vet is prepared to sell some antibiotics without a silly consultation fee.

[Caralou]

We've just posted an article on Bumblefoot including home cures here http://www.poultry.allotment-garden.org/Chicken_a/bumblefoot-chickens.php. It may help I hope