Chicken First Aid Kit 101

So you've decided to keep your own backyard flock, but you're not sure how to best be prepared for the inevitable emergencies that arise from any type of animal husbandry. This compilation of must-haves will help you be ready for many wound and illness scenarios that are common among poultry.

Corid

Ivermectin

Hand warmers

Neosporin (without pain relief)

Scarlet Spray

Safeguard Liquid De-wormer (for goats)

Vet Rx

Selenium

Vitamin B

Vitamin E

Prid

Coconut Oil

Bag Balm

This list was compiled by Linda Ferris, Goodview resident, and experienced chicken breeder who has been a mentor (and savior) to us many times over our years of chicken keeping. Two other things she recommends strongly to anyone starting up a flock are:

1. Thoroughly predator-proof your coop and run. Chain-link fencing or chicken wire are not enough to keep many of our area predators out. Instead, line your coop/run with hardware cloth and bury it several inches underground. This will go a long way toward keeping unwanted visitors from trying to get at either your chickens or their food.

2. Keep to a strict 30-day quarantine whenever you acquire new birds - regardless of how much you might trust their source. Biosecurity is so important for maintaining the overall health of your flock. Having the new birds cooped at a safe distance from the old, keeping all food and water supplies completely separate, and using different shoes when entering each run for the duration of the quarantine is the only way to ensure the newcomers don't transfer any existing illnesses or parasites to your existing flock.