ESB-3 Sulfachlorpyrazine 30% Powder 50g – Coccidiosis & Paratyphoid Treatment for Chickens, Turkeys & Pigeons

What Is ESB-3?

ESB-3 is a water-soluble antiprotozoal and antibacterial powder containing sulfachlorpyrazine sodium monohydrate 30% (also called sulfaclozine). Each 50g bag contains 15g of active sulfachlorpyrazine sodium monohydrate. It is used to treat and control coccidiosis, fowl typhoid, fowl cholera, and necrotic enteritis in poultry, and is also widely used in pigeons, ornamental birds, and cage birds for coccidiosis and paratyphoid (Salmonella) treatment.

ESB-3 is dissolved in drinking water and administered as the sole water source during the treatment period. It acts quickly — treatment should begin at the first signs of disease for maximum effectiveness.

How Sulfachlorpyrazine Works

Sulfachlorpyrazine is a sulfonamide antiprotozoal and antibacterial agent. It works as a competitive antagonist of para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) — a compound that bacteria and coccidia must synthesise folic acid from. Mammals (including poultry) obtain folic acid from their diet and don’t synthesise it themselves, which is why sulfonamides selectively target pathogens without harming the host bird in the same way.

By blocking PABA utilisation, sulfachlorpyrazine prevents folic acid synthesis in coccidia and bacteria. Without folic acid, these organisms cannot produce nucleic acids, halting cell replication. This makes ESB-3 coccidiostatic and bacteriostatic — it stops the pathogen from multiplying, allowing the bird’s immune system to eliminate the existing infection. Treatment must continue for the full course to give the immune response time to clear the organisms.

Target Pathogens

Coccidiosis (Eimeria species)

ESB-3 is active against all major Eimeria species affecting poultry:

• Eimeria acervulina — upper intestine; whitish ladder-like lesions
• Eimeria necatrix — mid-intestine; severe; high mortality in young birds
• Eimeria maxima — mid-intestine; pink/orange mucus; growth depression
• Eimeria tenella — caecum; bloody droppings; one of the most pathogenic species
• Eimeria brunetti — lower intestine
• Eimeria mitis, E. mivati, E. hagani, E. praecox — generally mild
• Eimeria adenoides, E. meleagrimitis — turkeys

Note: For E. tenella and E. necatrix — the two most severe species — a higher dose of 1.5–2g per litre is recommended.

Bacterial Infections

• Fowl typhoid / Pullorum disease — caused by Salmonella gallinarum and Salmonella pullorum
• Fowl cholera — caused by Pasteurella multocida (Gram-negative)
• Necrotic enteritis — caused by Clostridium perfringens type A and C
• Paratyphoid (Salmonella) — in pigeons and ornamental birds

Target Species

• Broiler chickens — coccidiosis and bacterial infections
• Laying hens — coccidiosis and bacterial infections (NOT for use in birds producing eggs for human consumption)
• Turkeys — coccidiosis and bacterial infections
• Pigeons — coccidiosis and paratyphoid (Salmonella)
• Ornamental birds and cage birds — coccidiosis and paratyphoid

Dosage and Administration

Standard Dose

1g ESB-3 powder per 1 litre of fresh drinking water — this delivers approximately 300mg sulfachlorpyrazine (300 ppm) per litre, equivalent to approximately 50mg active ingredient per kg bird bodyweight.

Higher Dose (Severe Infections with E. tenella or E. necatrix)

1.5–2g ESB-3 powder per 1 litre of drinking water

Practical Dose Table

How Much Water Does the 50g Bag Treat?

• At standard dose (1g/L): the 50g bag prepares 50 litres of medicated water
• A flock of 50 chickens drinking 250ml each per day requires 12.5 litres/day — so the 50g bag provides approximately 4 days’ supply at standard dose
• For smaller flocks of pigeons or cage birds, the bag can be stored once opened in a cool, dry place

Treatment Schedule Options

The standard 3-day consecutive course can be repeated after a 2-day break if needed. Shuttle treatment programs have also been found effective:

• Consecutive: Day 1, 2, 3 (rest) Day 6, 7, 8
• Shuttle programme: Days 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 or Days 1, 3, 5, 7, 9

Critical Administration Notes

1. Dissolve thoroughly: Stir ESB-3 powder into fresh water until fully dissolved before offering to birds
2. Remove ALL other water sources during treatment — birds must only drink the medicated water. This includes fresh greens, fruit with high water content, and any supplementary drinkers. If birds can access unmedicated water they will not receive an effective dose.
3. Start treatment immediately at the first clinical signs — the earlier treatment begins, the more effective it will be. Waiting until the infection is advanced significantly reduces efficacy.
4. Prepare fresh medicated water daily — do not store medicated solution overnight
5. Treat all birds in the group simultaneously — untreated birds remain a source of re-infection
6. If water consumption increases (e.g. in hot weather), top up with unmedicated water only after the birds have consumed their daily medicated ration

⚠️ After Treatment: Supplement With Vitamins B and K

Sulfachlorpyrazine, like all sulfonamides, interferes with the gut bacteria that help produce vitamin B complex and vitamin K in birds. A course of ESB-3 can therefore deplete these vitamins, which may contribute to the hypovitaminosis B and K listed as a side effect. After completing a course of ESB-3, it is strongly recommended to supplement the flock with a vitamin B complex and vitamin K supplement for several days to replenish these nutrients and support recovery. This is one of the most important post-treatment steps that is consistently overlooked by bird keepers.

Withdrawal Periods

Do not use ESB-3 in laying hens whose eggs enter the food chain. Egg withdrawal is not defined; therefore, eggs from treated hens must not be used for human consumption.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to sulfachlorpyrazine or any sulfonamide
• Impaired liver or kidney function
• Heart disease
• Existing anaemia
• Laying hens producing eggs for human consumption

Side Effects

• Hypovitaminosis B and K — most clinically significant; supplement vitamins after treatment
• Crystalluria — crystal formation in urine in acidic urine conditions; ensure adequate water intake
• GI disturbances — mild inappetence, diarrhoea; usually transient
• Anaemia — with prolonged use at high doses
• Growth depression — rare at recommended doses

Storage

• Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight
• Keep in original packaging with the bag sealed after opening
• Keep out of reach of children
• Prepare only the amount of medicated water needed each day — do not store the dissolved solution

ESB-3 vs Toltrazuril for Poultry Coccidiosis

Frequently Asked Questions

Can ESB-3 be used in pigeons?

Yes. ESB-3 is widely used in pigeons for the treatment of coccidiosis and paratyphoid (Salmonella). Dissolve 1g per litre of drinking water and provide as the sole water source for 5–7 days for coccidiosis, or up to 14 days for paratyphoid/Salmonella. Remove all other water sources during treatment.

How do I know if my chickens have coccidiosis?

Key signs include: blood or mucus in droppings, lethargy and huddling, ruffled feathers, loss of appetite, pale combs, diarrhoea, and sudden deaths in young birds. E. tenella (caecal) causes the most obvious bloody droppings. Begin ESB-3 treatment immediately at the first signs — waiting for confirmation significantly worsens outcomes.

How much water does one 50g bag of ESB-3 treat?

At the standard dose of 1g per litre, one 50g bag prepares 50 litres of medicated water. For a small backyard flock of 10 chickens drinking approximately 250ml each per day, that’s 20 days of medicated water supply — more than enough for a full 3-day course with plenty remaining for a follow-up if needed.

Do I need to give vitamins after ESB-3 treatment?

Strongly recommended. Sulfonamides like sulfachlorpyrazine interfere with gut bacteria that synthesise vitamins B and K. After completing the treatment course, provide a vitamin B complex and vitamin K supplement for 3–5 days to help the flock recover nutritional status and immune function.

Can ESB-3 be used in laying hens?

ESB-3 can be used in hens but not in birds whose eggs are intended for human consumption. There is no defined egg withdrawal period, meaning any eggs produced during or after treatment cannot enter the food chain. ESB-3 is suitable for laying hens in non-production contexts (e.g. breeding flocks not supplying eggs for sale).

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