How do you find a poultry vet?

[Sue Solakian]

I never thought about taking them to be checked but just for peace of mind I’d like somebody with experience to look at my 5 15 week old pullets and 3 3 week old pullets. When I search online in my area regular vets come up none that specialize in poultry. Any advice?

Check with local colleges. I know in GA UGA has a wonderful veterinarian program. DNR might know or USDA.

 

[illinoischick]

Hi there! Here in Illinois I called our county Farm Service Association and they gave me 2 names. Do you have something like that?

 

[Steve817]

I don’t have any real concerns. This is our first time raising chickens and I want to make sure they’re good. They look and act like regular chickens but what do I know. . They free range for several hours a day and there was a suggestion on another thread that wild bird carry different things that can affect a back yard flock.

Shoot some video and post it. We’ll be able to tell you and it will be much cheaper.

 

[Chickncaretaker]

You don't see vets who specialize in chickens because there is no money in chickens. You are talking about a $20 bird. The office visit alone will exceed the value of the bird. When something critical comes down, the state veterinary and your land grant university take the lead. Unless you live in a state where poultry production is a major part of the economy, poultry vets are non existent.
What are your concerns with your flock?

My pasture chickens ( mixed flock) seem to have messy poopy bottoms. I clean their fun and coop daily they are only locked up at night. They have about 3 fenced acres to roam on all day. How can I keep them clean?

 

[Percheron chick]

Could be a few things going on. Something in the pasture, change of feed, change of temp, worms... I would try adding a pre/probiotic or fermented feed. Some hens just seem to have poopy butts while the rest is fine but they also tend to have poopy eggs.

 

[Tamshens2022]

You don't see vets who specialize in chickens because there is no money in chickens. You are talking about a $20 bird. The office visit alone will exceed the value of the bird. When something critical comes down, the state veterinary and your land grant university take the lead. Unless you live in a state where poultry production is a major part of the economy, poultry vets are non existent.
What are your concerns with your flock?

I have a chicken who has been exhibiting respiratory symptoms. I'm new to having my own chickens (since adulthood). I have one who shakes her head and makes a sort of coughing sound frequently and her stools, though getting a bit firmer still look off. She's eating much better than a few weeks ago. Her former owner told me to feed her a can of green beans with red pepper flakes, Oregano and cumin. She was hardly touching it. I tried it in other foods but she didn't eat a lot of it. I also regularly gave her apple cider vinegar in her water. I've started her on poultry cell. It's been suggested that she could have gapeworm but I'm not sure which dewormer to use or how to dose it. She was declining when all alone so I took a chance and put a companion of her breed who has a strong immune system in with her. Her only egg she's laid in the last month that I've had her was wrinkled, deformed and weak shelled. She had previously been a good layer so I was told (I was also told she's young and healthy and she's the second one I've bought from him that got sick).