Useable and non-useable medications for chickens. Non-emergency.

[Wyorp Rock]

Well, it did happen.
Granted it doesn't cover all eventualities and of course most of the labels are in Catalan or Spanish. I may be able to do something about that soon.
But, if you want a basic should have on hand list of chicken care kit this list is what I've found to be indespensible.

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

There is also this should you have trouble working out dosages for Flubendazole for an individual chicken.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/flubendazole-worming-dosages.75090/

There are 1000s of threads here on BYC that can be searched, there are a LOT of articles that deal with various issues that can be searched, not to mention all the blogs, youtube videos, instagram, vet websites, medical websites, etc. etc. that can be searched.

Shad! Thank you providing for 2 examples of "LOTS of articles that deal with various issues that can be searched".

The learning center has many informative articles that can be used to help a person gather information and make the best decision on what course of treatment/action they may need to take.

 

[Shadrach]

Shad! Thank you providing for 2 examples of "LOTS of articles that deal with various issues that can be searched".

The learning center has many informative articles that can be used to help a person gather information and make the best decision on what course of treatment/action they may need to take.

​

Let me wind you back a bit.

MTKitty said:
I second the vote for one of the experts, or even a group of them, to put together a list of chicken first aid items. I even vote that it be stickied in the appropriate forum.

And your response was.

Not happening!

MT kitty didn't ask for an encyclopedia of every chicken ailment and their treatment.

 

[linkay]

Well, it did happen.
Granted it doesn't cover all eventualities and of course most of the labels are in Catalan or Spanish. I may be able to do something about that soon.
But, if you want a basic should have on hand list of chicken care kit this list is what I've found to be indespensible.

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

I looked thru and it is helpful. Does anyone know how much you would give a hen with a impacted crop the 100 percent pure coconut oil.

 

[Jackie-83]

Ok, there are obviously a ton of resources with advice on how to treat an illness or injury. My inquiry was more about injury because the diagnostic aspect is much simpler, and less likely to require a vet.

Bumble foot for example. Extremely common. Tons of resources on this site alone. But the big glaring headline is "DO NOT USE ANTIBIOTIC OINTMENT WITH PAIN RELIEF!!!" Why? I have no idea... It wasn't an issue for me because we keep standard triple antibiotic on hand, and leave the fancy stuff alone.

I've read of many people giving their chickens aspirin. I'm sure there is a dosage guide somewhere. But instead of crushing an aspirin and guessing at the dosage, surely a drop or two of children's Tylenol won't hurt right?

I have no clue if a chicken can tolerate Tylenol. It's never come up, so I haven't done the research. But this is an example of things that probably seem so basic to experienced chicken keepers, but perplex the crap out of those of us who are new. Also, I'm sure you're well aware, vets who treat chickens are hard to find. Small animal vets don't have a clue about chickens (or most birds in general), large animal vets "farm vets" either don't know about chickens or don't want to deal with them. Exotic vets are far and few between, by the time you get into them it's usually too late anyway. And because they offer "speciality" services they have prices to match. So even if you are lucky enough to have one in your area... It may not be accessible.

So maybe my original question was too broad. Maybe something more along the lines of a guide on "how to not murder your chicken while trying to heal them" would be a better topic.

I was looking for something basic. With commonly used OTC meds that most people have in the home that can be useful. Or that should be avoided.

Alcohol or peroxide?
Gauze and wrap or liquid bandage (new skin)?
Aspirin or Tylenol?

 

[Shadrach]

I looked thru and it is helpful. Does anyone know how much you would give a hen with a impacted crop the 100 percent pure coconut oil.

I have never read a dosage as such. As a guesstimate I give no more than teaspoonfull and I give that in lumps from oil kept in the fridge so it's hardish.

 

[Eggcessive]

Definitely do not give tylenol or acetominophen to chickens, just as it is not given to cats. Edited to say that studies have shown the acetominophen can cause liver and kidney toxicity.

 

[MTKitty]

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

Thank you, @Shadrach. This is quite helpful. The label language is no problem as the medicines have the same names in my world (for the ones I saw at first glance).

 

[Shadrach]

Ok, there are obviously a ton of resources with advice on how to treat an illness or injury. My inquiry was more about injury because the diagnostic aspect is much simpler, and less likely to require a vet.

Bumble foot for example. Extremely common. Tons of resources on this site alone. But the big glaring headline is "DO NOT USE ANTIBIOTIC OINTMENT WITH PAIN RELIEF!!!" Why? I have no idea... It wasn't an issue for me because we keep standard triple antibiotic on hand, and leave the fancy stuff alone.

I've read of many people giving their chickens aspirin. I'm sure there is a dosage guide somewhere. But instead of crushing an aspirin and guessing at the dosage, surely a drop or two of children's Tylenol won't hurt right?

I have no clue if a chicken can tolerate Tylenol. It's never come up, so I haven't done the research. But this is an example of things that probably seem so basic to experienced chicken keepers, but perplex the crap out of those of us who are new. Also, I'm sure you're well aware, vets who treat chickens are hard to find. Small animal vets don't have a clue about chickens (or most birds in general), large animal vets "farm vets" either don't know about chickens or don't want to deal with them. Exotic vets are far and few between, by the time you get into them it's usually too late anyway. And because they offer "speciality" services they have prices to match. So even if you are lucky enough to have one in your area... It may not be accessible.

So maybe my original question was too broad. Maybe something more along the lines of a guide on "how to not murder your chicken while trying to heal them" would be a better topic.

I was looking for something basic. With commonly used OTC meds that most people have in the home that can be useful. Or that should be avoided.

Alcohol or peroxide?
Gauze and wrap or liquid bandage (new skin)?
Aspirin or Tylenol?

I have never really understood on what evidence the advice not to give antibiotic with pain relief, or not to give pain relief at all.
Pain relief is a graduated treatment depending on the pain the patient is in much like with humans.
Best option imo is Metacam. That's what the vets I've dealt with prescribe.
If that isn't availiible then half a junior asprin twice a day with food is what I've used. Once again on the advice of a vet.
Neither Alcohol or Peroxide. Chlorhexedine is much better and doesn't inhibit healing like Peroxide. Most chemists stock it and if you get stuck, many mouthwashes contain it.
Not many injuries that I can think of should be wrapped. Foot injuries and bumblefooot are a possible exception. There is a very well written recent article on bandaging bumblefoot. You would have to search for it.
Not Tylenol. Asprin or Metacam.

 

[Jackie-83]

Purple spray... Wound-Kote or other brand, because there are lots of them. Claims to be safe for chickens. I've never used it on them. I have used it on horses, cows, dogs, cat, and myself. Has this been effective for anyone?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Let me wind you back a bit.
And your response was.
MT kitty didn't ask for an encyclopedia of every chicken ailment and their treatment.

And I gave a response. There's 1000s of threads, articles and info (lists too!) that are searchable here on BYC and the web. IF the author of the articles use good keywords that people commonly use, then those are tremendous resource for all of us to utilize. Sadly, keywords are few and/or lacking on most.

Linking your 2 articles helps drive this home that BYC articles and threads can be a good way to find information.

So I'm asking those of you who are more experienced and better educated to share what you know. Maybe start with general wound care and common ailments like bumble foot, and commonly available medications.

That's a very broad subject still. There's a wide variety of methods and medications that can be used to treat bumblefoot.
There's been some good posts from different folks that have treated bumblefoot. You may want to check out some of their methods/treatments and see what has worked for them
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/bumble-foot.1499271/post-25052946
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/bumblefoot-not-healing.1443809/post-23973555
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/treating-bumblefoot-with-tricide-neo.513183/post-6526194

Bumble foot for example. Extremely common. Tons of resources on this site alone. But the big glaring headline is "DO NOT USE ANTIBIOTIC OINTMENT WITH PAIN RELIEF!!!" Why? I have no idea

Some triple antibiotic ointments contain Lidocaine or an ingredient that ends in "caine". You can research it if you wish, seems there's a debate as to whether ingredients ending in "caine" are toxic to chickens or not - so as a precaution, it's often suggested to just avoid ointments with pain relief. There's SO many products on the market available, it's fairly easy to just avoid it

I've read of many people giving their chickens aspirin. I'm sure there is a dosage guide somewhere. But instead of crushing an aspirin and guessing at the dosage, surely a drop or two of children's Tylenol won't hurt right?

Aspirin dosing can be found here! No more guessing.
http://extension.msstate.edu/content/solutions-and-treatments

Alcohol or peroxide?
Gauze and wrap or liquid bandage (new skin)?
Aspirin or Tylenol?

For what? Bumblefoot? Looks like this method seems to work fine. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/bumble-foot.1499271/post-25052946
Every "case" of bumblefoot can be different. Personally I would not use Alcohol, Peroxide, Liquid Bandage, Aspirin and definitely not Tylenol (see post#16)
Clean up the foot, determine if it needs cutting - I prefer to just clean, apply Clear Iodine or Triple antibiotic ointment, wrap, let the bird go. Look at it the next day, if the scab is soft enough to extract, then I go for it. If not, I repeat.

Purple spray... Wound-Kote or other brand, because there are lots of them. Claims to be safe for chickens. I've never used it on them. I have used it on horses, cows, dogs, cat, and myself. Has this been effective for anyone?

Blu Kote? Again - vague. Sorry. Yes I have used it. It works well on minor scrapes/cuts. It's not something I would use on large wounds or gashes simply because it colors the wound and makes it harder to access how well something is healing.

I think you are over thinking or complicating things. Sometimes the more you read, the more confusing it can get. You don't have to have the latest and greatest to treat most minor things in chickens.