I'm running a chicken class and having peeps put together 1st aid kits, what can they put in them?

[BlindLemonChicken]

Thank you! What are the uses of those just so that I could tell them about it?

I think @Eggcessive covered it That’s probably where I learned it anyway lol. I’ve had a few chickens with eye problems so I used saline and Terramycin for that and NutriDrench is good for sick chickens and flagging chicks so I try to keep some on hand.

 

[tlcmurphy]

Leave out the ACV, it does absolutely nothing. Good suggestions here!

 

[talkinboutchickens]

Permethrin powder and/or spray. Powder for treating chickens for lice/ mites, liquid spray for treating the coop if necessary. But not sure I would consider this a "first aid" item, something to have on hand in case of emergency. More like a back-up item.

If these people are near farm stores to pick up items the same day they might save money and just wait to get certain things. Corid liquid and powder for treating coccidiosis can coat $25. I bought a lot of things, including expensive wormers, Corid, sulfa and other antibiotics that all expired, and were tossed after never being needed. You could make a list of things that are really good for baby chicks, and then another list of things that could be needed and where to find them. I would have some type of vitamins with electrolytes or some Poultry Cell or NutriDrench which has those, and is good for rescuing a weak or ill chick of any age. First aid supplies including Hibiclens chlorhexidene disinfectant and plain Neosporin or triple antibiotic ointment. Saline which can be bought, or made at home is good for wounds or flushing an eye. Saline is 1/2 tsp of salt in 1 cup or 8 ounces of water. Larger quantities 2 tsp salt in 32 ounces of water can be boiled on the stove to sterilize it. Wormers such as Valbazen or Safeguard liquid goat wormer are ones most commonly used, and those must be shaken well before giving the dose. Syringes 1 ml, 5 ml, 10 ml, and 35 ml would be good to have. Hypodermic needles 18 and 22 gauge that fit those would be good. The 1 ml usually is found at human pharmacies and available without a needle for small doses. Those can be bought in feed stores or online when needed. In Spring when chicks are sold, it may be hard to find Corid in a hurry at feed stores, so it would not hurt to have some around. Sharing some of these items with friends that have chickens is wise. Vet wrap from feed stores can be cut into 1 inch strips to use for dressing or splints. Cohesive dressing is the same and available in first aid aisles at Walmart. Dollar Tree sells gauze pads, triple antibiotic ointment and some vitamins. Don’t use hydrogen peroxide on wounds. The list of supplies can get very large and carried away. Knowing where to find things is best.

I think @Eggcessive covered it That’s probably where I learned it anyway lol. I’ve had a few chickens with eye problems so I used saline and Terramycin for that and NutriDrench is good for sick chickens and flagging chicks so I try to keep some on hand.

Leave out the ACV, it does absolutely nothing. Good suggestions here!

Wow! Thank you so much everyone for all the great suggestions, I'll add some of those to my list! So for NutriDrench, I'm sure I could just portion a little into a glass bottle with a dropper and put one in each first aid kit? And thank you so much Eggcessive for the detailed description and DIY saline solution recipe!

A headlamp, preferably with a red light option. Chickens don't see red light as we do, so if I have to bring a chicken in the house for treatment, I go out after dark with the red head light. The chickens know there is something in the coop, but since they can't see, they don't go crazy. They just stand on the roost.

I have used this for taking one chicken into the house and also for spraying them for mites after dark. My chickens aren't lap chickens, so they aren't handled much.

The headlamp has many other, non-chicken uses too.

That's a great idea! Maybe I can find a multi-pack on amazon for cheap. That would be good for myself to have on hand, too. Sick of carrying out a big old flashlight and setting it down in poop to check on the chickies

 

[Sally PB]

That would be good for myself to have on hand, too. Sick of carrying out a big old flashlight and setting it down in poop to check on the chickies

And, it leaves both hands free!

 

[Shadrach]

Wow! Thank you so much everyone for all the great suggestions, I'll add some of those to my list! So for NutriDrench, I'm sure I could just portion a little into a glass bottle with a dropper and put one in each first aid kit? And thank you so much Eggcessive for the detailed description and DIY saline solution recipe!

That's a great idea! Maybe I can find a multi-pack on amazon for cheap. That would be good for myself to have on hand, too. Sick of carrying out a big old flashlight and setting it down in poop to check on the chickies

By no means covers all the recommendations but this is what I used to keep on hand. My current chicken health kit is similar but due to the increasing difficulty of getting any medication for chickens in the UK, much of it is for humans and other animals.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-chicken-keepers-health-armoury.75220/

 

[talkinboutchickens]

By no means covers all the recommendations but this is what I used to keep on hand. My current chicken health kit is similar but due to the increasing difficulty of getting any medication for chickens in the UK, much of it is for humans and other animals.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-chicken-keepers-health-armoury.75220/

Thank you so much @Shadrach that is a very helpful article!

 

[townchicks]

First of all, let's talk about what is a true emergency, and what can wait until the stores open in the morning. Then there are things that are handy to have, but can be substituted with something most of us have on hand anyway. So, true emergency. Shock, wounds, poisoning, egg binding, coccidia (in chicks) . There may be others that I'm not thinking of, but that's what comes to mind. So, shock treat with electrolytes and warmth. Packaged electrolytes are handy, but you can make your own with water, sugar and a pinch of salt. Most of us have that on hand anyway.. Next, wound care. Cleaning, something antibacterial to keep it moist, and something to cover it to keep flies off. Lots of choices for cleaning, betadine and hibiclens are very good, handy for humans and other animals too, but saline (good ole water and salt) works great too. Even plain clean water is ok in a pinch, the point is to flush out dirt and bacteria. Then, to keep the wound moist and kill bacteria, triple antibiotic ointment, great, but honey works too. Non stick pads to cover the wound, yes, buy those and keep handy, vet wrap or elasticon to keep the pads on, so handy for so many things so again yes buy ahead. Next, poisoning. Activated charcoal buy ahead. Next, coccidia, emergency in small chicks, not so much in adults, can't hurt to be cautious and keep Corid handy. Next, egg binding , calcium citrate with vitamin D , if you have laying hens, this is a must have, IMO. Tums in a pinch, but poor substitute. So, my long winded way of getting to my real recommendation for every emergency kit. A notebook, with treatment recommendations, possible substitute that can be found in most homes, and recipes to make those. We all have experienced the mind freeze when in an emergency, notes can be great. Oh and a dog crate. Lots of second hand on offer, when you have time to shop.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

 

[talkinboutchickens]

First of all, let's talk about what is a true emergency, and what can wait until the stores open in the morning. Then there are things that are handy to have, but can be substituted with something most of us have on hand anyway. So, true emergency. Shock, wounds, poisoning, egg binding, coccidia (in chicks) . There may be others that I'm not thinking of, but that's what comes to mind. So, shock treat with electrolytes and warmth. Packaged electrolytes are handy, but you can make your own with water, sugar and a pinch of salt. Most of us have that on hand anyway.. Next, wound care. Cleaning, something antibacterial to keep it moist, and something to cover it to keep flies off. Lots of choices for cleaning, betadine and hibiclens are very good, handy for humans and other animals too, but saline (good ole water and salt) works great too. Even plain clean water is ok in a pinch, the point is to flush out dirt and bacteria. Then, to keep the wound moist and kill bacteria, triple antibiotic ointment, great, but honey works too. Non stick pads to cover the wound, yes, buy those and keep handy, vet wrap or elasticon to keep the pads on, so handy for so many things so again yes buy ahead. Next, poisoning. Activated charcoal buy ahead. Next, coccidia, emergency in small chicks, not so much in adults, can't hurt to be cautious and keep Corid handy. Next, egg binding , calcium citrate with vitamin D , if you have laying hens, this is a must have, IMO. Tums in a pinch, but poor substitute. So, my long winded way of getting to my real recommendation for every emergency kit. A notebook, with treatment recommendations, possible substitute that can be found in most homes, and recipes to make those. We all have experienced the mind freeze when in an emergency, notes can be great. Oh and a dog crate. Lots of second hand on offer, when you have time to shop.

Thank you very much!! I've never used saline but probably should have when my hens have gotten awful spur wounds from roos. I bet I can make some up and portion it in little bottles for them to put in the 1st aid kits.
And that is a good idea about the notebook and the calcium for egg-bound hens!

 

[Bawkbok]

We all have experienced the mind freeze when in an emergency, notes can be great.

This is so true. Even though we've read 100 times how to attend to a prolapsed vent, until you see one taking out your favorite chicken half dead in the run, the mind goes blank and the panic sets in quickly. An emergency binder with tabbed subjects is my go to - everything from an antibiotic list, what to give when, to individual diseases and ailments with proper treatments - all documented so I can quickly find it to ensure I'm following proper protocol for the circumstances.