If one was to

[rancher hicks]

If I wanted to keep a medicine cabinet of meds what would it contain?
What is the best medical book of illnesses and their treatment for chickens?
What are the most common illnesses in chickens?

 

[Mourningdove]

wonderful idea!!! I would also like to know!

 

[threehorses]

There's a post on the boards right now for a medical first aid kit; that's my set of choices.

Meds, I like Tylan (injectable w/3 cc syringes and 20 gauge needles), LS50, I keep Sulmet on hand always. I dislike Terramycin.

Well heck, here's my general list:
Corid AND Sulmet (one for babies, one for adults)
Probios dispersible powder or Acidophilis capsules
A bottle of organic apple cider vinegar
A couple of bottles of babyfood applesauce
LS50 antibiotics
Penicillin G Procaine in the fridge

Cuticle scissors (buy good ones - you'll use these to cut off tiny bits of flesh or trim small feathers gently around wounds)
regular scissors or "penny cutting" scissors (great for bandages and splints)
Hydrogen peroxide - a very large bottle
Betadine - a small bottle will do.
Neosporin without pain killer
terramycin ophthalmic ointment (from the feedstore - keep inside)
a spray on like Alucoat or Alushield (horse section, feedstore)
q-tips
duct tape
popsicle sticks (for application of meds, or for splints for baby chicks)
Paint-stirring sticks (bigger splints)
wrapping gauze
non-stick gauze pads
Maxi-pads (they're clean and absorb a lot of blood from wounds - not joking)
Vet-wrap a plenty! (Buy it from the feedstore - it's cheaper than the pharmacy and it comes in colors to try to make things feel more positive)
Suture material (cat or dog size - see online or at better feedstores)
Hemostats (for suturing or for plucking maggots or feathers)
tweezers
alcohol - a large container
a clean cheap white sheet (to make slings from or cover wounds if necessary)
A GOOD blood clotter like Clotisol - vet recommended and non toxic even in the beak, unlike styptics. One small bottle lasts years.
paper towels - you can throw them away, and they're clean.
non-latex gloves in bulk - a box. Sometimes you need to wear two pair.
a news paper (absorbant and makes clean up easier if you have to flush wounds)
Several 3 cc syringes with 22-25 gauge needles
16 gauge needles to replace on the 3 cc syringes if using penicillin
2 10-30cc syringes without needles – for flushing wounds
A toolbox to keep all non-refrigerated items in
Superglue (emergency suture)


Barn supplies:
permethrin dust ("poultry dust")
ivermectin (wormer and delouser) - I prefer drop-on generic.
wazine (piperazine 17% solution - first time wormer)
a smock or something to wear when handling ill birds
a fold up cheap plastic table on which you can treat wounds and then hose off and disinfect
a clip on lamp in case you need direct lighting
an extension cord
a couple of glass jars in which to make iodine solution or keep warm water
a 5 gallon bucket to throw stuff away in that can be disinfected.


BOOKS: There are a number of them. Storey is good, Damerow's book is good. But honestly some of the best information is online, googled. I should make a list of favorite links. hmmmm

 

[rancher hicks]

Well I am going to type this information, but when I was at the feed store I was told they don't make terrimycin anymore so even if one wanted to use I don't know how you could get it.

 

[threehorses]

They changed the formulation a bit and now sell it as Doxycycline. It used to be useful, but so many people used it that the bacteria just don't pay attention to it. And then there are issues with people using dairy products at the same time which make the medicine inactive.

Back in the Day, if your bird didn't look 100% the feedstore guys handed you a package of terramycin and said "this is what you need". Nevermind if it was a wound, coccidiosis (which isn't even bacteria), or a virus.

OK, rant over.

There are other similar meds out there that are alright, terramycin wasn't really even that bad but it was certainly over recommended. I don't mind aureomycin or erythromycin. But still lincomycin/spectinomycin in the LS50 and Tylan seem to cover most of the biggies, Sulmet covering the bacterial/ccoci stuff.

(ADDED By the way - this ungodly list of goodies is best built up a piece or two at a time.

It would hurt to bad to buy all at once. I look for a lot of this stuff at dollar stores by the way - lots of goodies there.

 

[TreeHugger]

I've got a basic medicine cabinet hanging up in my chicken house. I don't keep anything that must stay sterile in it since it gets very dusty (all of that stuff I keep in the house). Even though I rarely have any kind of emergency, it comes in very handy. At least I can easily find some scissors when I need them!

 

[rancher hicks]

Three horses I love you.
As for the rest this is why I asked this question. I don't want to be running around looking for this or that and trying to find meds at the local TSC or somewhere else. Bless you all.

 

[starting.from.scratch]

This is an AMAZING post.

Invaluable life saving info here! Thanks to all of you!