Natural Practices to prevent Health issues?

[Brigitt]

A daily generous portion of chopped nettles are beneficial, in my opinion. Whenever possible they also get chopped Chayote-leaves.
In this part of the world you can't rely wholly on commercial feed. I've had ducks almost starve before I noticed it was the dubious feed... with almost no nutritional value. Changing the brand did the trick, poor things.

 

[Lizzy733]

Immune boosting care will go a long way too - I had a girl get salpingitis and fight it off on her own before we got her to the doctor even though that's typically considered an automatic cull or requiring antibiotics. The cause? Being overproductive, so not really preventable but the doc said she was in very good condition otherwise.

Pelleted commercial feed is also important (this is a heavily studied field so its easy to find good brands with a little research) - it ensures they are meeting their nutrition requirements; snacks should really only make up 10% of their diet. My girls are very picky when it comes to treats; only seed and bugs- no pumpkin guts, herb trimmings, flowers or trimmed greens for my girls (I've tried!)- the only greens they will eat are ones that are still in the ground.

All my girls get a good dollop of Raw ACV in every water change ; I have wormwood planted in their yard which they occasionally browse- it's meant to be a natural dewormer and the chickens don't eat it in levels that are toxic. (as the fecal float came back clear, I'm assuming it's working.)

I have a loose perimeter of lavender around the run as it deters mites and a big covered DE and Sand Dust Bath - which can fit all four of my girls. I do check their plumage and haven't caught any mites hiding in there so far.

Make sure to tend wounds as soon as they appear with a good wound wash and antibiotic ointment - if there isn't an obvious dark clot, I find they seem to be okay mending with the rest of the flock unless your girls are particularly aggressive.

My sick girl was given an epsom salt bath (and no-tears shampoo) before being treated to some garlic powder covered crickets and a home made nutridrench. I also tried cinnamon covered oats, but no one was keen on this one. I didn't isolate, as her condition was not contagious and she was still keeping up with the others. A month on and she's not had any further trouble and is back to daily laying.

 

[woodmort]

Buy only chicks that have been vaccinated from a reliable source and keep anyone who has chickens away from my birds. Give the chickens free range and plenty of room and they will take care of themselves.

 

[igorsMistress]

I'd agree if I didn't use what I know for over 5 years without a single incident. Everything I've learned has actually come from a licensed veterinarian. Not trying to be a doctor, but trying to prevent using antibiotics and harmful medications that kill beneficial bacteria and such within an animal. When a veterinarian can treat animals without meds unless it's the last option, I think this speaks volumes about the individual. He's not looking for kick backs from pharmacies or causing more disease to get more money... He's in it for the animals not his own selfish gain...

I use commercial feed because it is a complete source of food... So agree on that part

Ironically, colloidal silver is what was under the bandage on my husbands incision after back surgery to kill infection, natural? I dunno. With the added calcium from the shells in addition to that in the feed the egg shells should be strong.

 

[igorsMistress]

Plain water, no additives. Nutritionally complete chicken feed, no additives. Fresh air, sunshine, fresh forage, occasional scratch or kitchen scraps. Brooder raised chicks raised almost exactly as a broody hen does....warm, dark, secure place to duck under, brooded from the start outdoors on the same ground they’ll always live on, and allowing them to totally self-regulate their needs, exposed to ambient temperatures and natural day/night cycles. Not being afraid to dispatch a bird that is ill or seriously injured. And understanding that raising these wonderful critters doesn’t have to be intimidating or complex.

X 2. Don't forget the watermelon!

 

[Willowspirit]

Ironically, colloidal silver is what was under the bandage on my husbands incision after back surgery to kill infection, natural? I dunno. With the added calcium from the shells in addition to that in the feed the egg shells should be strong.

can you tell my vet friend where to get those yummy drug company and pharmacy kickbacks?

 

[igorsMistress]

can you tell my vet friend where to get those yummy drug company and pharmacy kickbacks?

I'm sure if your friend is a vet they already know. They ceftainly push drugs like doctors

 

[Willowspirit]

I'm sure if your friend is a vet they already know. They ceftainly push drugs like doctors

Trust me she doesn't. She has us call an online pharmacy and then she approves it. She doesn't even get the difference between wholesale and retail. I wonder what people might say about what you do for a living.

 

[Fishkeeper]

Why would a vet push drugs? Drugs cost the clinic money, and the more expensive a clinic is, the fewer people go there. I mean, there are bad vets, just like there are bad doctors and bad lawyers and bad everything else, but the good ones don't "push" anything that the animal doesn't need. Being a vet is an incredibly stressful job with a very high suicide rate, people don't become vets unless they genuinely love animals.
Doctors don't tend to push drugs, either, except the especially bad ones.

 

[igorsMistress]

Trust me she doesn't. She has us call an online pharmacy and then she approves it. She doesn't even get the difference between wholesale and retail. I wonder what people might say about what you do for a living.

This is irrelevant.