Chicken First Aid

Watching a sick or injured hen walk slowly around the property can be heartbreaking, particularly if you don't know how to care for them or how much intervention is too much and when you need to "call it" for compassionate care reasons. Knowing some simple chicken first aid can go a long way towards easing the difficulty of the situation.

The neighbor's dog has given us too much opportunity to learn wound care in the form of two separate attacks. I'm always surprised how easily people are willing to accept that a pet dog is intrinsically "more valuable" than my immensely productive (eggs and insect foraging) flock. 

Thankfully we can't see their property from ours or I'd still be nursing a powerful anger.

Side injury July 10 with stitches 

Hind injury July 10

I've read that sick or injured chickens should be isolated to avoid contagion and possible bullying by other members of the flock who may view the injured bird as a waste of resources. We haven't had sickness so far, fingers crossed, and bullying has not been a problem for us. Actually Admiral Crank, our largest and bossiest hen, seems to take on a nurturing role, keeping close to injured girls throughout the day. Know your flock I guess.

Chicken first aid supplies we have on hand at all times:

1. Apple Cider Vinegar: about a tablespoon in a gallon of water acts as an antibiotic and boosts their immune system. We put ACV in the chick waterer from the start and often do with the full grown hens, particularly during any times of stress. Different sources online suggest ACV also aids with calcium absorption, producing better quality eggs. Anecdotally, there is definitely an improvement in egg quality when we consistently use ACV.

2. Electrolytes and Vitamins: give their body everything you can to help their natural healing abilities.

3. Iodine: A vet friend gave us this tip. Make a solution of water and iodine that resembles weak tea and  use it to flush out the wound daily or multiple times a day depending on the severity of the injury. Chicken wounds are susceptible to fly larvae, little white wormy parasites feeding on the injured flesh. This of course could be a benefit in terms of cleaning the wound, however they will also eat healthy flesh. I prefer to flush them out and manage the wound cleaning myself.

Side injury Aug 3

Hind injury Aug 3

4. Vetericyn: we picked this up at our local tack and feed supply last year. According to the owner this stuff is so great she knows people who spray it on their own wounds. I haven't tried it but it certainly seems to speed the rate of healing for the chickens.

5. Lavender: this one I have tried on myself, my husband, and all the animals. Put a few drops of the natural antiseptic essential oil on wounds, burns, or bites to increase the rate of healing, reduce scaring, relieve pain. And of course the scent is calming, which doesn't hurt.