If you raise chickens, chances are you may have unfortunately lost a chicken or two to predators or disease. Rather than scrambling to find supplies to administer First Aid treatment to an injured hen or rooster, it’s helpful to have them all in one place in the form of a poultry First Aid Kit.
Gather all your supplies and store them in a container. I used an old box, but you can use a Tupperware, basket or whatever you like. I stored mine in our shed with our chicken feed, but now that it is getting warmer I moved it to a closet inside our house. You can certainly include more supplies to tailor to your specific needs, but here’s what I have in mine:
Topical ointments, antiseptics, wound dressings
Gauze pads for wounds
Oral antibiotics and a package of vitamins and electrolytes
A syringe to administer the oral medications (just dribble a little on their
beak and they will drink the rest of it)
You can’t forget the treats!! (I usually cave in and give mine their
favorite: shredded cheese, grapes, or bread)
You will also need to have on hand old towels, washcloths, and Q-tips and/or cotton balls. You may also consider keeping in your kit a needle and thread as well as supplies for broken limbs. Hopefully you won’t ever have to utilized your First Aid kit, but if your flock were to be attacked or suffer some illnesses, it’s better to be prepared. Chickens can be surprisingly resilient, and it’s amazing the wonders a little bit of nursing can do.
Great post! I really need to have more chicken-doctoring supplies around, especially living 30 miles from the vet's office. Thanks for sharing this at the Homestead Barn Hop! Hope to see you again next week!
Great post! I really need to have more chicken-doctoring supplies around, especially living 30 miles from the vet's office. Thanks for sharing this at the Homestead Barn Hop! Hope to see you again next week!
Great post! I really need to have more chicken-doctoring supplies around, especially living 30 miles from the vet's office. Thanks for sharing this at the Homestead Barn Hop! Hope to see you again next week!
Greetings from Southern California
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God bless you 🙂
~Ron
Greetings from Southern California
I added myself to follow you. I invite you to visit my blog and follow me if you want too.
God bless you 🙂
~Ron
Greetings from Southern California
I added myself to follow you. I invite you to visit my blog and follow me if you want too.
God bless you 🙂
~Ron
Thanks, Jill! I've really enjoyed the barn hop.
Hi Ron! Thanks for stopping by and for following 🙂
Thanks, Jill! I've really enjoyed the barn hop.
Hi Ron! Thanks for stopping by and for following 🙂
Megan, this is a WONDERFUL idea! I'm going to follow your example and get a chicken first aid kit together. It's always good to be prepared in advance!
Thanks for linking up to the Barn Hop!
Megan, this is a WONDERFUL idea! I'm going to follow your example and get a chicken first aid kit together. It's always good to be prepared in advance!
Thanks for linking up to the Barn Hop!
Good idea 🙂
Good idea 🙂
How cool! When I was little we had chickens and I remember my parents having to play "doctor" sometimes. This would have been handy.
Thank you for stopping by my blog 🙂
How cool! When I was little we had chickens and I remember my parents having to play "doctor" sometimes. This would have been handy.
Thank you for stopping by my blog 🙂
Okay! Love this idea of a chicken first aid kit! Very resourceful of you! xo Caroline
Okay! Love this idea of a chicken first aid kit! Very resourceful of you! xo Caroline
Okay! Love this idea of a chicken first aid kit! Very resourceful of you! xo Caroline
Megan, this is a great idea! Thanks so much ~ I love my little feathered family 🙂 I enjoyed my first visit to your blog via the Barn Hop (I'm a lot behind.. lol!). -Tammy
Megan, this is a great idea! Thanks so much ~ I love my little feathered family 🙂 I enjoyed my first visit to your blog via the Barn Hop (I'm a lot behind.. lol!). -Tammy
Megan, this is a great idea! Thanks so much ~ I love my little feathered family 🙂 I enjoyed my first visit to your blog via the Barn Hop (I'm a lot behind.. lol!). -Tammy
One of my hens has just been attacked by something probably a dog or a fox, she has a chunk of skin and feathers missing on her back just above her tail with a puncture wound which is bleeding, though not heavily. i have applied antiseptic cream and bathed it and fitted a bandage which was quite difficult, i have isolated her with water and feed, has anyone any other suggestions.
Graham 10th August 2011 9pm
One of my hens has just been attacked by something probably a dog or a fox, she has a chunk of skin and feathers missing on her back just above her tail with a puncture wound which is bleeding, though not heavily. i have applied antiseptic cream and bathed it and fitted a bandage which was quite difficult, i have isolated her with water and feed, has anyone any other suggestions.
Graham 10th August 2011 9pm
Hi Graham, I am so sorry to hear that one of your hens was attacked. Poor thing. It sounds like you are off to a really good start with what you have done for her already. I would recommend also putting her on an antibiotic just in case she were to develop an infection. Also you might want to give her something easy to eat, like layer mash, and wholesome yummy treats. Keep an eye on her to make sure she is eating and drinking. You may also want to supplement her water with electrolytes. Chickens are pretty resilient so I would hope she will recover just fine. Good luck!
Hi Graham, I am so sorry to hear that one of your hens was attacked. Poor thing. It sounds like you are off to a really good start with what you have done for her already. I would recommend also putting her on an antibiotic just in case she were to develop an infection. Also you might want to give her something easy to eat, like layer mash, and wholesome yummy treats. Keep an eye on her to make sure she is eating and drinking. You may also want to supplement her water with electrolytes. Chickens are pretty resilient so I would hope she will recover just fine. Good luck!