What to put in an emergency kit?

[Riverbend Farms]

I am trying to put together an emergency kit because I had to put down my favorite hen due to severe fly strike last night and this is kind of my way of trying to prevent something so horrifying like that from happening again. I know stuff can randomly happen with chickens (I've had my fair share of it with my other birds) but last night was horrifying. Her vent was torn open, insides visible, hundreds of maggots. All within 6-10 hours (I was at school most of the day then didn't see her until 7:30 pm at night and she was put down at 8:15) She was literally fine that morning. It is so awful and empty now in the yard. It's so strange with only 10 birds instead of 11.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

1. A local avian veterinarian!

JK, though one would sure come in handy!

2. Veterycin wound spray. Or Sterile saline solution and a spray bottle, for cleaning wounds.
3. ORIGINAL Neosporin or other triple antibiotic ointment that does NOT contain pain reliever, as that's toxic to birds.
4. Soft, clean cloths for gently blotting wounds dry. Maybe keep them folded individually in ziploc bags to keep them fresh and clean till needed; when soiled, put in a grocery bag to be laundered.
5. A wire dog crate to keep an injured bird in under treatment. Can keep in house if needed, or keep in run or coop so bird can remain part of flock during treatment.
6. Surgical gloves for handling.
7. Shower cap, to keep your hair out of the way while treating?
8. Puppy pee pads to put in bottom of dog crate. Change daily or as needed.
9. Feeder and waterer she can't knock over. Also container for grit and one for OS.
10. Block of wood for a perch.
11. Antibiotics if you can get them.
12. Sugar water or electrolytes for shock.
13. Syringes for forcing liquids if necessary.
14. Olive oil and sugar for prolapse, but those are in your kitchn.
I won't go into the stuff you might need for tube feeding. If you need that, ask in a thread. These are what I have on hand. Others may have other suggestions.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

And ... I'm so sorry this happened to you! There was nothing you could have done.

 

[Riverbend Farms]

And ... I'm so sorry this happened to you! There was nothing you could have done.

I got home at 4pm that day but was training my dog then ate dinner then put the birds away at about 7;30 pm when I discovered her.. I feel very guilty that there was something I could have done.

 

[Debbie292d]

Once fly strike gets to that point, there isn't too much you can do but what you did, put her out of her misery. I'm sorry!

The best thing, if you should ever see this happen again, is bring the chicken in so the flies can't continue laying more eggs. Then you can work on getting rid of them. That takes soaking a few times a day, and picking out with tweezers what doesn't just float off. There are a few other tips, so just post in the ER forum if that happens, but bringing her in is crucial.

My must-haves are:

Poultry Cell and/or Nutri-Drench Vitamins for their water
Probiotic powder for their water, or crumbles for feed
Saline solution for rinsing eyes or injuries
Epsom salt for soaking
Vetericyn or other antimicrobial spray for injury
Triple antibiotic ointment (without painkiller) for injury or eye infections
Vet wrap for splay-legged chicks.
B-Complex for crippled or injured chicks/chickens.
300 mg Calcium Citrate +D for egg laying issues

Everything I listed we've used over the years, and most in the past month.

Other things we have, as we needed them, but I wouldn't buy just to have on hand due to the shelf-life issue.
Corid (coccidiosis).
Ivermectin (scaly leg mites)
Amoxicillin (respiratory infection)

 

[Riverbend Farms]

1. A local avian veterinarian!

JK, though one would sure come in handy!

2. Veterycin wound spray. Or Sterile saline solution and a spray bottle, for cleaning wounds.
3. ORIGINAL Neosporin or other triple antibiotic ointment that does NOT contain pain reliever, as that's toxic to birds.
4. Soft, clean cloths for gently blotting wounds dry. Maybe keep them folded individually in ziploc bags to keep them fresh and clean till needed; when soiled, put in a grocery bag to be laundered.
5. A wire dog crate to keep an injured bird in under treatment. Can keep in house if needed, or keep in run or coop so bird can remain part of flock during treatment.
6. Surgical gloves for handling.
7. Shower cap, to keep your hair out of the way while treating?
8. Puppy pee pads to put in bottom of dog crate. Change daily or as needed.
9. Feeder and waterer she can't knock over. Also container for grit and one for OS.
10. Block of wood for a perch.
11. Antibiotics if you can get them.
12. Sugar water or electrolytes for shock.
13. Syringes for forcing liquids if necessary.
14. Olive oil and sugar for prolapse, but those are in your kitchn.
I won't go into the stuff you might need for tube feeding. If you need that, ask in a thread. These are what I have on hand. Others may have other suggestions.

this is a great list, thank you. I will get some of the things off this list (I already have stuff such as the vetericyn and Neosporin)

 

[Riverbend Farms]

Once fly strike gets to that point, there isn't too much you can do but what you did, put her out of her misery. I'm sorry!

The best thing, if you should ever see this happen again, is bring the chicken in so the flies can't continue laying more eggs. Then you can work on getting rid of them. That takes soaking a few times a day, and picking out with tweezers what doesn't just float off. There are a few other tips, so just post in the ER forum if that happens, but bringing her in is crucial.

My must-haves are:

Poultry Cell and/or Nutri-Drench Vitamins for their water
Probiotic powder for their water, or crumbles for feed
Saline solution for rinsing eyes or injuries
Epsom salt for soaking
Vetericyn or other antimicrobial spray for injury
Triple antibiotic ointment (without painkiller) for injury or eye infections
Vet wrap for splay-legged chicks.
B-Complex for crippled or injured chicks/chickens.
300 mg Calcium Citrate +D for egg laying issues

Everything I listed we've used over the years, and most in the past month.

Other things we have, as we needed them, but I wouldn't buy just to have on hand due to the shelf-life issue.
Corid (coccidiosis).
Ivermectin (scaly leg mites)
Amoxicillin (respiratory infection)

I will definitley get the things on this list minus the shelf-life ones except maybe the ivermectin.

 

[thecatumbrella]

I'm so sorry about your hen.
Fly strike is one of my biggest fears. It just seems to escalate so quickly. There's nothing you could have done differently.

Your post is timely; I'm writing a first-aid kit article right now. I'd be happy to come back and share it once I'm done, though it looks like Blue and Debbie got you covered with great suggestions.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Ah yes, I forgot the Calcium citrate because I take that myself. And vet wrap, yes, for bumblefoot. And Prid also. There's always something!

 

[Debbie292d]

I will definitley get the things on this list minus the shelf-life ones except maybe the ivermectin.

What do you use the ivermectin for, if I may ask? If it's for a dewormer, most suggest using
Valbazen (albendazole), or Safeguard (fenbendazole). We've never wormed ours, although when we're treating for scaly leg mites, I guess we are to a certain extent.

It's said Ivermectin has lost its effectiveness for deworming, but it can still work.