First Aid Kit for Chickens **with pics**

I know only what I've read about here on BYC and some online searching. I'm not a vet, but I wanted to have some things on hand in case my birds have a problem. Here is the kit I currently have including what problem each item is good for (with pertinant links). Hope other newbie bird owners find this helpful, and please correct me if I've listed something incorrectly or left out something important.

I got all of this at my local feed store or drug store (CVS, Walgreens, etc.)






Same pic as above, but labeled to correspond to the item names below. Hope this helps!



CONTENTS:

A: Duramycin Tetracycline for chronic respiratory disease:
http://www.drugs.com/vet/tetracycline-soluble-powder-324.html

B: Ivomec for mites:
http://www.drugs.com/vet/ivomec-injection-for-cattle-sheep-and-swine-can.html
and
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=3225598

C: Sav_A-Chick Electrolyte and vitamin supplement for stress/dehydration:
http://www.brittonclouse.com/chickenrunrescue/CARING FOR A SICK OR INJ 9_08.pdf

D: General Lube / KY Jelly for prolapse:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=26390&p=1

E: Wazine for intestinal worms (do this every 6 months and don't eat eggs for 10 days after treatment)
Note: Per Speckledhen, if they already have worms: "Wazine gets only roundworms, Ivomec gets a few more than Wazine, but Valbazen gets all the worms a chicken can get and it will not clog the system with dead worms because it starves out the worms over a several day period."

F: Blu Kote for bacterial/fungus infection and to cover any open wound so other chickens won't peck the sore (I bought the hand pump kind - not aerosol - so the poor chick doesn't get a blast of air)

G: Kit with exacto knife and tweezers for bumblefoot or crop surgery:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=236649
https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-disease-chicken-crop-surgery.php
(*NOTE: you can find this kind of kit on ebay, a hobby store (see scrapbooking section), or Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/SE-Knife-Set-16Pc-Hobby/dp/B0002BBYIE )

H: Benadryl in case of snake bite:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=7146872

I: Flashlight for inspection of problem.

J: Neosporin (WITHOUT pain relief because that is toxic to birds) for open wounds.

K: Gauze, waterproof tape, first aid wrap that sticks to itself to cover wounds (if deep puncture or after surgery)

L: Hydrogen Peroxide / Rubbing alcohol to disinfect an wound.
Note: per Terrielacy: "Chlorhexadine solution (if you can get it) is better than hydrogen peroxide as it won't kill healthy flesh."

M: Gloves to keep you and the bird from spreading germs.

N: Syringe (in case you need to give liquid or medicine you can use just the syringe to squirt it into their mouth and measure the dosage).

O: Needles (I got the smallest they had at 22 gauge).


NOT SHOWN:

Epsom salt for swelling tissues (use in bath)

Qtips / cotton swabs (long-handled, if possible)

Apple cider vinegar for worm *prevention* and to slow algae growth in water container:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=41321&p=1

Preparation H for swelling tissues (use for prolapse)

Thread and needle (if you perform surgery...I'm not sure what kind of thread to use)
Note: Per Speckledhen: "You can get pre-threaded dissolvable sutures sometimes for horses at the feed store or your own vet. Those would be best. We've used fishing line or invisible sewing thread, but those need to be cut later on."

Laxitive for vent gleet:
http://ultimatefowl.atwiki.com/page/Vent Gleet
and
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=6032718
Note: Per Speckledhen: "Laxative alone is not going to cure vent gleet, which is a fungal infection of the vent-I think the second part of the treatment is an external anti-fungal cream or ointment similar to those used for athlete's foot."

Castor oil/ olive oil for sour crop:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=551792

Corid or Sulmet for Cocci (bloody poop):
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=566105

Mareks's disease...nothing you can do here, the birds just have to have a vaccination against it (vaccinations come 200 per order, so just hope your chicks got the vaccine at the hatchery!):
http://animalscience.ucdavis.edu/avian/mareks2.pdf


LAST WORD:
This BYC page covers a lot more than I did here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=6580204#p6580204

Very nice!

Thank you so much for your post. I have had my girls for three years with no problems but I have had this nagging urge to do a first aid kit for my girls but didn't know what I needed and where to get it. THANK YOU!!!!!

Thank you!!!!

To quote Slim Pickens: "A feller could have hisself a pretty good weekend in Vegas with this!"

Seriously, thanks, and nice job putting this together!

Quote:

OMG...I feel as if I am at work....LOL So much of that is sold at TSC...LOL

THANK YOU !!!! was going to post a questions of a 1st aid kit....you beat me to it....

Glad others are finding it helpful. I hope the links provide info. on symptoms, dosing, etc.

It's pretty good with the visual. I'd like to make a few comments, if I may:

One issue I have with it is that vinegar has no effect on worms. If they have worms enough to really need a wormer, that won't do it. Wazine gets only roundworms, Ivomec gets a few more than Wazine, but Valbazen gets all the worms a chicken can get and it will not clog the system with dead worms because it starves out the worms over a several day period.


As for thread for suturing, you can get pre-threaded dissolvable sutures sometimes for horses at the feed store or your own vet. Those would be best. We've used fishing line or invisible sewing thread, but those need to be cut later on.


Neosporin's pain reliever is usually Pramoxine, not a "caine" type, so it should be safe for the birds. I have used that many times with no issues whatsoever.


Laxative alone is not going to cure vent gleet, which is a fungal infection of the vent-I think the second part of the treatment is an external anti-fungal cream or ointment similar to those used for athlete's foot. May want to add that in there. I've never seen vent gleet here, not sure if it's even very common. I always say, however, that the longer you have chickens, the more stuff you'll see and the more things you'll know that you never wanted to know, LOL.

Awesome info., Speckledhen, Thanks!

Edited: I will add your info. in, and was also thinking I'd add numbers to the pic and then number the item, so folks could see what is what... Helps to locate the item in the store when you can get an idea of what you are looking for / at. Will have to do that from a different computer tomorrow...