Medication Must-Haves moving forward

Hi Team,

Over the last nine days of owning (more like being owned by) eight minus two (sniff, sniff) chicks, I have become painfully aware that my community is severely lacking in chicken / chick medications. When I called the store where I got my chicks to ask about what to do for a sick chick, I was told sugar water. The farm service wouldn't recommend anything without a full diagnosis. We are not a farm community and do have vets who specialize in poultry. In combing through the poultry/farm section, I have discovered that there are no products available to purchase. I'm seeing posts on de-worming chickens, but I have yet to see a poultry de-wormer Anywhere in town. Ugh! Needless to say, my frustration level with chicken ranching is through the roof!

So!, my question is, what type of general medication/products for chicken health (including de-worming if necessary) should I have on hand? AND, where can I buy it online? I have a complete pharmacy for my horses, just-in-case, but I have nothing for Dumpling, Nugget, Big Red, Wiblet, Muscrat and Sophie. It's my job to keep them happy and healthy. I need the basics on hand.

Again, than you for time and expertise.

Shannon

QHGirl said:

Hi Team,

Over the last nine days of owning (more like being owned by) eight minus two (sniff, sniff) chicks, I have become painfully aware that my community is severely lacking in chicken / chick medications. When I called the store where I got my chicks to ask about what to do for a sick chick, I was told sugar water. The farm service wouldn't recommend anything without a full diagnosis. We are not a farm community and do have vets who specialize in poultry. In combing through the poultry/farm section, I have discovered that there are no products available to purchase. I'm seeing posts on de-worming chickens, but I have yet to see a poultry de-wormer Anywhere in town. Ugh! Needless to say, my frustration level with chicken ranching is through the roof!

So!, my question is, what type of general medication/products for chicken health (including de-worming if necessary) should I have on hand? AND, where can I buy it online? I have a complete pharmacy for my horses, just-in-case, but I have nothing for Dumpling, Nugget, Big Red, Wiblet, Muscrat and Sophie. It's my job to keep them happy and healthy. I need the basics on hand.

Again, than you for time and expertise.

Shannon

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I hear your frustration! Do you have safeguard for your horses? It can be used just fine on chickens! in fact, most chicken meds are "off label" and are for horses, cattle, goats, cats, etc. You have come to the right place to learn! Corid is good to have in the med box too (for coccidiosis) a cattle treatment! Antibiotics are dependent on the problem but, if you want to keep one on hand, Oxytetracycline powder is fairly good. Knowing how to make electrolytes is helpful but in a pinch, sugar water or honey is good. I always have polyvisol infant drops w/o iron on hand as well. triple antibiotic w/o pain killer, vet wrap, 60ml syringes, 18g needles, eye dropper, blu kote, Betadine, peroxide, q tips, anti pick lotion, a couple hen saddles, chew-able baby aspirin, blood stop powder, scissors and Sevin dust. That should be a good kit. I bet you have half of it for your other animals already!

Thanks for the reply! That is very helpful. What is a hen saddle?

QHGirl said:

Thanks for the reply! That is very helpful. What is a hen saddle?

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YW! A hen saddle or apron, is a durable fabric back protector that has elastic that goes under the wings. You can order them from My Pet Chicken, Etsy or even make them yourself. It protects a hen from roosters nails, sensitive regrowing feathers, sun burn and healing injuries. IMHO, they are a great thing to have!

For all the off label products I mentioned, the chicken dosages for each can be found on this site. Do you already have several bc you have horses?

Thank you for the explanation on hen saddles.

I do have quite a bit of the supplies you mentioned but I need the baby aspirin, eye dropper, infant drops, etc. I'm up to my eyeballs in vet wrap!

QHGirl said:

Thank you for the explanation on hen saddles.

I do have quite a bit of the supplies you mentioned but I need the baby aspirin, eye dropper, infant drops, etc. I'm up to my eyeballs in vet wrap!

Click to expand...

Well hey, at least you are better supplied than you thought!