Although backyard chickens are hardy girls it’s always a good idea to have a chook first aid kit on hand to keep them flappin’ fit. But what essential items should you include in your kit of health wonders? Worry not chicken keepers, we’ve got a list all the important stuff here!
Your backyard chicken first aid kit should include:
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Bandages & medical tape
- Use bandages & medical tape to cover wounds and discourage pecking.
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Iodine
- Use iodine to disinfect any wounds.
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Probiotics & garlic powder
- Use probiotics or garlic powder to boost your hen’s immune system
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Electrolytes
- Use electrolytes to hydrate weak and ill chooks. Check out our home made recipe here!
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Pestene Powder & Diatomaceous Earth
- Use Pestene Powder or Diatomaceous Earth to get rid of any mites or lice.
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Petroleum jelly
- Use petroleum jelly for preventing frostbite on combs and wattles and preventing and treating scaly leg mites.
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Nail trimmers, scissors and tweezers
- Use nail trimmers to keep your flock’s nails and spurs trim, scissors to cut bandages and tweezers to remove any foreign objects.
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Styptic powder or cornstarch
- Use styptic powder or cornstarch to stop bleeding.
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Saline
- Use saline for eye washes to remove foreign objects or flush out wounds.
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Flashlight and batteries
- Use a flashlight in dark corners of the coop or night-time chook run visits.
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Latex gloves
- Use latex gloves to prevent spreading infection and keep your hands clean.
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Pet crate
- Use a pet crate or ventilated cardboard box to isolate contagious hens while they recover from illness or injury.
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Vet contact info
- Always have your trusted avian vet info on hand for emergencies.
Your hen's health is in your hands, but don't stress! Prevention is always better than a cure - so keep your chooks healthy and happy with a Hen Health Kit. Still curious? Read about the top 5 natural health products for chooks here.
From hydration to healthy diets, we all want to do an eggcellent job when caring for our feathered friends. Alongside a useful first aid kit, it is essential that you've got the right knowledge you need to raise happy, healthy chooks. Did you know 67% of chicken keepers surveyed experienced a chicken health or behaviour issue in the first 12 months that they didn’t know how to handle?
But don’t worry! Our feathered friends over at Chickenpedia have created a Chicken Healthcare Course. It is a comprehensive online course that includes everything you need, including what to look for in an unhealthy chicken and how to support your egg-laying hens to optimal health. All of their courses are really well structured and filled with vital information, which is why I highly recommend them to all of my readers! From raising baby chicks to feeding to behavior, you’ll find valuable information that’ll give you the knowledge and confidence to successfully look after your chickens.
Check out Chickenpedia today. As a member, you will also get access to the ALL of their chicken courses!
