do you have to take your chicks/ chickens to the vet ???

[pefferlawchicken]

we are raising about 3-6 chicks and we dont have the money to take them to the vet , do we have to at all??

 

[lindseythefork]

Not unless you have a reason to..

 

[Foxhound lady]

Since I work for a vet and an avain vet at that, they get to go to the vet.

We did have one chicken that pecked anothers eye and it was knarly looking got some meds and she looks get now.

Another member of the board had a case beyond sore coup and ended up with $400 surgery to save her bird. It was an inpacted crop full of sand and assorted other things that weighted in at almost a pound

 

[speckledhen]

Most chicken-keepers take care of their own birds. Usually, a vet knows nothing about chickens, but sometimes will fake it or treat blindly, and charge you a big fee anyway. I wont be taking a chicken to the vet. If it's respiratory, I would cull the bird. Too many diseases make them carriers for life.

 

[Spires6]

I never have. Get a good book on caring for chickens that tells how to treat diseases and problems and practice preventive care by keeping their coop clean and feeding and watering appropriately. Don't add new birds until you know they are healthy.

 

[lisahaschickens]

most chickens never see a vet and most vets are not knowledgeable about chickens. Sure, there are a few, but most people consider a chicken not worth the $$ a vet visit usually costs. That said, some people love their chickens like pets/family members and when they have access to a good chicken vet, they will take them... but only if they are sick or injured.

Chickens aren't like dogs, cats, horses, etc... they don't need regular vet checkups. A vet is only needed if something is wrong and you are willing to pay to try to fix it. Commonly people simple cull (kill) a sick or injured bird or try to make it better at home without a vet's involvement.

So, I wouldn't worry about it, especially if you don't have extra money for it. Vets are expensive and shouldn't be necessary for your birds

 

[cobrien]

They don't need scheduled vet care. But eventually you will end up with a sick or injured bird and you'll need to make a decision. Most people (understandably) won't take sick/injured chickens to the vet, and if you are new at this, it can be an especially difficult decision.

I am in the minority, I do take my girls to the vet when they are sick. I luckily found a vet who charges me very little to take care of the chickens, he has taught me to tube feed sick birds, administer injections, and he's given me homeopathic remedies. For example, my one-legged chicken (Special Edna) sometimes has a sore leg. Not good for a one legged chicken. We've been giving her fish oil for it, which is a natural anti inflammatory, and it works! . This vet is a very rare find.

Best bet is to learn as much as you can about taking care of sick birds on your own; make friends with others who have this kind of knowledge who can help you; make contacts with a vet who takes care of farm animals - they charge less and will allow you to treat the animals yourself more than a companion animal vet, saving even more money. Get your chickens used to being handled so you can find problems early; read about how to spot problems early to avoid bigger problems later. And get mentally prepared for the day when you have to decide between spending $$$ or letting (or helping) a chicken die.

Good luck
Colleen

 

[EweSheep]

I do have TWO great vets here in town that does avian vet care as well as zoo vet care. They are pricey and they dont belittle you if you decided not to give it the care if the price is too much and they would happily charge you for the visit and putting the chicken down by lethal injection for a small fee. Or I can take her home, make her comfy or end it myself. Its hard choices but it all depends on how attacted you are to the birds.

 

[gloriousgladys]

My chicken is drinking a lot, should I be concerned? I check it's crop and found the chicken thin and it was hard to find the crop.

 

[Tinadudley5000]

My check is sneezing and sounds like she has a wheez . What to do she is special to me.