If you are raising chickens it is a good idea to keep a first aid kit ready for emergencies even if you have not had an emergency yet. An emergency first aid kit can help if your chicken gets injured or gets sick suddenly and it will save you the trouble of having to locate and run out to get emergency supplies at the last minute.
Here is a list of items you will need to make your chickens their very own first aid kit. A well prepared first aid kit can help you to take proper care of your chickens in the event of accidental injuries, or sickness, and should be a top priority in your health management program for your backyard, urban, pet chickens. See lists below for basic medicines, basic tools, wound care items, eye treatment items, items for incidence of prolapsed eggs, ringworm and fungal infection treatments, and basic items for preventative care.
Items for Preventative Care
Vitamins
Mineral supplements
Electrolytes
Prevents dehydration during warm weather and sickness
Probiotics
Oregano-Use oregano as a feed topping to prevent many chicken illnesses and diseases at least once a week.
Vaccination Schedule
A vaccination schedule should be included in your first aid kit. Keep track of when each bird was vaccinated and the type of vaccinations which were administered. Taking the time to prepare in advance for basic common emergencies can help your chickens and even save their lives. See what you should put in your first aid kit below.
See our list of items to put in a Chicken First Aid Kit, get great deals on them, plus watch our featured video for Chicken First Aid Kit Basics.
Items for Preventative Care
Vitamins
Mineral supplements
Electrolytes
Prevents dehydration during warm weather and sickness
Probiotics
Oregano-Use oregano as a feed topping to prevent many chicken illnesses and diseases at least once a week.
Vaccination Schedule
A vaccination schedule should be included in your first aid kit. Keep track of when each bird was vaccinated and the type of vaccinations which were administered. Taking the time to prepare in advance for basic common emergencies can help your chickens and even save their lives. See what you should put in your first aid kit below.
See our list of items to put in a Chicken First Aid Kit, get great deals on them, plus watch our featured video for Chicken First Aid Kit Basics.
Medicine's & Treatments to Put In Your Chicken First Aid Kit-Must Haves
Hydrogen Peroxide-Can be used good for draining wounds which have filled with puss or have become infected. Note: Only use this occasionally, overuse can cause skin and flesh deterioration.
Epsom Salts-Can be used to soak wounds and soak hens with prolapsed eggs.
Corid-Prevention and treatment of Coccidiosis (if you see blood in your chickens feces they most likely have coccidiosis).
Vicks Vapor Rub-For Breathing difficulty and keeps feathers, legs, comb, wattles shiny and soft)
Anti-fungal creme-When a chicken gets any type of sore on their body, Anti-fungal creme can keep it from developing fungus (which is very common) which will lessen the chances of it turning into a bacterial infection. Parasite Treatment for mites, lice, and worms
Triple Antibiotic-Only use once on an overnight treatment with a wrap. Then remove) Most wounds heal rapidly, within 3 days, if kept clean and dry with an anti-fungal creme.
Iodine- (If you suspect infection, soak the bird in lukewarm water with 1'2 cup of salt approximately 20 minutes. Then rinse in lukewarm water. Be sure to have a couple towels ready to wrap and dry the bird right away. Do not let your bird get cold! Bathe in a warm area. Be sure to rinse the salt water treatment off good. Salt is not good for chickens to eat and they love to clean their feathers. After the bird is clean and dry, apply iodine with a guaze pad. After iodine dries completely, apply anti-fungal creme. Wrap with guaze and remove the next day allowing the wound to heal open to the air. Make sure bird is isolated from other birds and in a clean cage with a rack at the bottom or wearing a chicken diaper so they do not sit or step in their feces.)
VETRx-Treatment for Eyeworm, can be used as a conditioner and mite repellent on foot, leg, wattles, comb, under wings, can also help with breathing problems. Find out more: Go to VetRx
Duramyacin-10-Mild antibiotic to fight infection
Amoxicillen 500mg-Antibiotic to fight major infections if Duramyacin or Probiotic's does not work
Iodized Table Salt-Soak hen in warm water with half cup of salt for 15 minutes to treat leg or body wounds, vent rashes, foot ulcers, sores or stuck eggs
Banixx-For pecking sores, bumble foot, Fowl Pox, raw vent area infection, Chicken leg or foot injuries. Banixx on Amazon
Epsom Salts-Can be used to soak wounds and soak hens with prolapsed eggs.
Corid-Prevention and treatment of Coccidiosis (if you see blood in your chickens feces they most likely have coccidiosis).
- Shop Merial Corid Soluable Powder 20%
- Shop CORID for Chickens Multi—Animal Chicken & Goat Dewormer Amprolium 9.6 Percent Coccidiosis Treatment w/ (6) Oral Syringes (10mL, 2Tsp.)
Vicks Vapor Rub-For Breathing difficulty and keeps feathers, legs, comb, wattles shiny and soft)
Anti-fungal creme-When a chicken gets any type of sore on their body, Anti-fungal creme can keep it from developing fungus (which is very common) which will lessen the chances of it turning into a bacterial infection. Parasite Treatment for mites, lice, and worms
Triple Antibiotic-Only use once on an overnight treatment with a wrap. Then remove) Most wounds heal rapidly, within 3 days, if kept clean and dry with an anti-fungal creme.
Iodine- (If you suspect infection, soak the bird in lukewarm water with 1'2 cup of salt approximately 20 minutes. Then rinse in lukewarm water. Be sure to have a couple towels ready to wrap and dry the bird right away. Do not let your bird get cold! Bathe in a warm area. Be sure to rinse the salt water treatment off good. Salt is not good for chickens to eat and they love to clean their feathers. After the bird is clean and dry, apply iodine with a guaze pad. After iodine dries completely, apply anti-fungal creme. Wrap with guaze and remove the next day allowing the wound to heal open to the air. Make sure bird is isolated from other birds and in a clean cage with a rack at the bottom or wearing a chicken diaper so they do not sit or step in their feces.)
VETRx-Treatment for Eyeworm, can be used as a conditioner and mite repellent on foot, leg, wattles, comb, under wings, can also help with breathing problems. Find out more: Go to VetRx
Duramyacin-10-Mild antibiotic to fight infection
Amoxicillen 500mg-Antibiotic to fight major infections if Duramyacin or Probiotic's does not work
Iodized Table Salt-Soak hen in warm water with half cup of salt for 15 minutes to treat leg or body wounds, vent rashes, foot ulcers, sores or stuck eggs
Banixx-For pecking sores, bumble foot, Fowl Pox, raw vent area infection, Chicken leg or foot injuries. Banixx on Amazon
Basic Tools Needed for Chicken First Aid Kit
These are basic tools I keep in my chicken first aid kit and have had to use them on more than one occasion. I keep them in separate zip lock freezer bags. (No I don't freeze them but the freezer bags are sturdier and last longer than regular sandwich bags).
Crop tube
Gauze
Gauze tape
Q Tips
Cotton Balls
Razor knife
Tweezers
Small Scissors
Nail brush to clean scales on legs and toes
Sterilized soft toothbrush
Vaporizor
Breathing machine (optional)-You can use a breathing machine or oxygen machine if your chicken is having severe breathing problems. (Try a little Vicks or VetRx first and check the air way for fungus (white or yellowish cheesy substance-if present you can stick your finger down there and gently pull it out of the airway).
Chicken diapers-Sick chickens need to be quarantined and this means keeping them separate from the flock and usually in a pet carrier of some type. When I quarantine I put the sick bird in a separate area inside a large pet carrier with a chicken diaper on. I check the diaper every few hours. Go to Chicken Diapers
See more items and video on the bare bones basic first aid kit for chickens below.
Crop tube
Gauze
Gauze tape
Q Tips
Cotton Balls
Razor knife
Tweezers
Small Scissors
Nail brush to clean scales on legs and toes
Sterilized soft toothbrush
Vaporizor
Breathing machine (optional)-You can use a breathing machine or oxygen machine if your chicken is having severe breathing problems. (Try a little Vicks or VetRx first and check the air way for fungus (white or yellowish cheesy substance-if present you can stick your finger down there and gently pull it out of the airway).
Chicken diapers-Sick chickens need to be quarantined and this means keeping them separate from the flock and usually in a pet carrier of some type. When I quarantine I put the sick bird in a separate area inside a large pet carrier with a chicken diaper on. I check the diaper every few hours. Go to Chicken Diapers
See more items and video on the bare bones basic first aid kit for chickens below.
Items for Treating Eye Problems for Chicken First Aid kit
Organic eyewash and rinse
Organic eye drops
Saline solution
RX Solution
Gauze to catch drainage
Vet RX
Anti-fungal Cream
Go to Chicken Eyeworm Treatments
Organic eye drops
Saline solution
RX Solution
Gauze to catch drainage
Vet RX
Anti-fungal Cream
Go to Chicken Eyeworm Treatments
Keep these items in your chicken first aid kit for prolapsed eggs or egg binding
Witch Hazel-An astringent used to sooth chafing, rashes, reduces swelling and pain.
Duramyacin-10 (or other poultry and livestock antibiotic)
Virgin Olive Oil
Duramyacin-10 (or other poultry and livestock antibiotic)
Virgin Olive Oil
Chicken First Aid Kit Items for Ringworm and Fungal Infections
You should keep one or more of these in your first aid kit.
- Ivermectin
- Chicken wormwood
- Verm X
- Butenafine
- Ciclopirox
- Econazole
- Terbinafine
- Miconazole
References:
1. Video. Nutrena (Dec. 3, 2014). First aid kit basics. Youtube.com. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWUFu3v5h_E
1. Video. Nutrena (Dec. 3, 2014). First aid kit basics. Youtube.com. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWUFu3v5h_E