Should we create a BYC "EMT" crew?

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I agree with the sentiment as well. But what if it is one of those times when none of this "team" is around? And your hen dies because you waited to see what was said here? I personally would never take on that responsibility.

Remember that when you ask for advice on an online forum, it is just that...advice. An avian vet is your first line of defense. I am not saying that there is not a wealth of experience here. I have been helped by many members, but ultimately, I am the one who bears the burden of caring for my pets.

It can be confusing to get so many different opinions and that is hard. I feel that too much is given to the panic like in too many antibiotics, too much medications without being for specific things. We get emotional and try to follow all advice. This may cause harm in the long run.

If I was given conflicting advice, I would step back and think about it. I mean if you are coming here instead of calling a vet, it is probably nothing that can't wait an hour while you follow up, settle down, observe the animal for a while and make a calm decision.

I just think that while it is a good idea in theory, like silkiechicken says, it is too much to ask of people without DVM degrees. I think advice is good. Dispensing treatments on an official "team" would constitute practicing medicine without a license and all the nightmares that can come out of that.
 
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I agree. If a specialist is needed call a vet. When you ask for help here your looking for ideas and you sort through what you think will work and what you think won't work.
 
I'm in agreement with Silkie, Terrie and Farmer Kitty.....Some on here have raised chickens longer than others and can give advice as to what has worked for them when dealing with emergencies, incubation, diseases or plain old feeding and egg laying....but a line has to be drawn that its just that "advice" online...some good, some not.... sort out what works for you...too much can go wrong with a chicken in a short period of time and unless your willing to use that "advice" or go see a vet that deals with poultry its just that "advice on what may work".....Stock up on some good Poultry books and read up.......
 
I do like the idea, but that being said I kinda like the idea of getting a BUNCH of different opinions or ideas and then being able to pick that which I agree with or which sounds more realistic.
I think its a great idea as I said. but folks need to understand and not do EVERY thing EVERYone suggests.... take everything with a pinch of salt! what works for one person or one chicken might not work for another.

If ever I was in an emergency situation with my girls, I'd like to hear EVERYONES' input and make my own choice as to which advise to follow.
 
So many of us have old had chickens for a few months and it's just uncharted territory. With a vet visit being $35-50 and the chickens being closer to $8, it's hard to rationalize the visit, even when we adore our creatures.
I read The Chicken Health Handbook daily, check BYC as time allows and call friends who have had chickens longer than I have. There's just so much to learn.

An EMT group would be fabulous. Dianna is a lifesaver, but absolutely that is alot of responsibility. She has great info and also must get tired of same questions endlessly asked by people freaking out over their chickens (as I have a half dozen times in the past two months) and her stored threads are super.

Bottom line is there is no great substitute for a good avian vet and lifelong experience with chickens, so we're doing the best we can and this forum has been incredibly helpful.

Someone had suggested chicken first aid kits a few weeks ago and that's a super idea...because when we're stressed, we don't want to wait a week for meds to arrive nor try to remember where we left something. I think there should also be a list of the effects & restrictions of meds, like don't give Sulmet to egg layers! Don't eat the eggs after Wazine for X days and certainly don't try to hatch them for X more.

Maybe the best thing is a chart of symptoms and possible causes with some cures. Maybe a checklist to accompany the first aid kit? Reminders like give the vitamins, electrolytes, possible foods, extra heat, things to stabilize the poor critter. The benefits of a good bath and how to do it. When you need to worry about the rest of the flock or yourself. What diseases are reportable.

Nearly 6000 views were directed at poor Tira and many of us followed her situation hourly. You may never have ten vets give ten identical opinions, but you may have ten EMT's following the same protocol, trying to make things the best they can.
 
Thing is though with health, it is not a single protocol and every case is different. You can't diagnose every bird like you would take blood pressure on a patient with a cuff or stop bleeding in person.

And as far as med kits, there are threads on that and as far as I have ever seen, all warnings for label use drugs can be found on the medications or online though google. As stated earlier, it is to the user to think about what they are doing and to read instructions carefully. If they need clarification, that is where the board comes into play.

Plus, the site cannot hold such a liability.
 
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Besides the general liability issue. The next problem is that people generally are in a panic and often leave out information in their post or do not see subtle clues that a person with chicken experience on the outside of the situation actually examining the bird would see.

It would be much easier on those here that help people with problems if everyone was thorough in their descriptions and actually read the sticky at the top of this forum before posting. Much valuable time and effort could be saved.
 
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