So glad to hear you have a good vet. One that knows chickens well is worth gold. Our vet advertised for exotic birds when he first opened up but dogs and cats took over his practice. He loves it when we bring in a Silkie - she's a real celebrity in the office.
I got 2 juvenile sisters from a breeder and kept emailing that one didn't grow or eat right. I never suspected a knowledgeable breeder would send me juvies with worms. 2-1/2 weeks later the breeder finally answered my email to worm the chick but the chick was already dead!
I now have my hens on a schedule for worming w/Ivermectin (vet approved the way I use it), lice/mite organic prevention spray, and vitamin E oil (less heavy and greasy than vaseline or olive oil) for leg massages to prevent against scaly mite - very good practice w/ Silkies. They all get a drop ( NOT dropperful ! ) of Poly-Vi-Sol no iron children's vitamins 2-3x/week dropped on the side of their closed break away from nostril, and no more than a drop as high doses of vitamins is harmful to the liver and internal organs. There are chicken vitamins to put in drinking water and some choose that route but I personally like knowing every chicken got a dose as some drink lots of water and some not so much. All chickens are individuals and you start learning their quirks in time. We also use Organic Poultry Protector in the coop crevices as well as directly on the chickens per instructions. Nest box straw is changed almost daily (our girls love to sleep in the boxes at night!)
Chickens require maintenance just like any other pet but there are some people who think they are just dumb chickens - how WRONG! Every pet life is precious. Even my aquarium fish were individuals.
