Backyard Chicken First Aid Kit – A Complete Checklist

We take preparedness very serious on our homestead. When injury or illness strikes, we don’t want to be running back and forth to the feed store or trying to desperately order supplies online. Chickens are usually pretty hardy and easy keepers but there will be accidents and illnesses occasionally. I hope this first aid kit checklist will help you when your next chicken emergency strikes.

Disposable Gloves

Disposable gloves will reduce the spread of germs in the instance of open wounds. Also, you should always wear gloves when doing any ‘dirty jobs’ (such as handling feces).

Bandage Material – Gauze, medical tape, Vet Wrap

Always keep bandage material in your first aid kit for covering wounds and treating injuries. Vet Wrap is a self adhering bandage that sticks to itself, but not to feathers or fur so it is desirable when treating animal injuries.

Nail clippers, Nail file, Skin glue (or super glue)

For trimming and repairing nails, beaks, and spurs.

Syringe or Dropper

For administering medication or for feeding a liquid diet if your bird is not eating on its own.

Betadine and/or Vetericyn

These antiseptic and anti-bacterial solutions are necessary for cleaning wounds. Betadine (Povidone-iodine) is a tried and true product for treating and disinfecting wounds on both animals and humans. Many old fashioned homesteaders swear by it (including us). Vetericyn is a newer (within the last 10 years) product manufactured for livestock and is also a great addition to any chicken first aid kit.

Triple Antibiotic Ointment

To aid in wound healing. (But be careful when selecting your ointment – Ointments with pain relieving or numbing ingredients are not safe for poultry use. We use the Neosporin Original)

Epsom Salt

Epsom Salt foot soaks are typically used to treat bumblefoot. Epsom salt soaks can also help relax muscles in egg-bound hens.

Liquid Calcium

Speaking of egg- bound hens: liquid calcium is also a handy supplement to use when treating an egg-bound hen.

Rooster Booster and Sav-A-Chick Electrolytes

Electrolytes are a great tool for helping a chicken in distress. I use Rooster Booster when dealing with extreme heat, shock after a predator attack, or when I have a bird recovering from illness or injury. I use Sav-A-Chick Electrolytes when I have a chick that is failing to thrive. Both of these products are soluble powders that you can add to their drinking water.

Tylan or Vet RX

Tylan is an antibiotic used to treat respiratory infections in poultry. Tylan does come in soluble powder, however, as of January 1, 2017 backyard chicken keepers could no longer purchase water soluble antibiotics for their birds without a prescription due to the U.S.D.A.’s Veterinary Feed Directive. Injectable antibiotics are excluded from the USDA’s restriction so homesteaders are still able to purchase the injectable version of Tylan.

If you are unable to get your hands on Tylan, Vet RX is an over-the-counter alternative. Vet RX can be given to birds orally, dabbed under the wings or nostrils, (like menthol rubs) or even added to their drinking water.

Corid (Amprolium)

Corid is used to treat Coccidosis, which is caused by a microscopic parasite. Most medicated chick feeds already contain amprolium to protect young chicks from coccidosis but, sometimes you may have to control an outbreak amongst your adult birds.

Dewormer and Dust-On Mite Powder

Intestinal parasites and mites can leach nutrients from your chickens and cause them to fall ill. I use Safe-Guard to treat intestinal parasites (I find the equine paste easiest to use – just give a small pea-size portion to each bird orally). For treating mites I use Revenge Dust-On powder.

Lubricating Jelly and Hemorrhoid Cream (Preparation H)

These would be used to treat prolapse. Preparation H would reduce the swelling and provide some comfort to the hen. The lubricating jelly will be used to help *gently* push the tissue back in.

Petroleum Jelly

Apply to combs and and wattles to prevent frostbite in the winter months. Can also be used to prevent and treat scaly leg mites.

Saline

Saline solution is used to flush eyes to remove any foreign objects or to flush out wounds.

Isolation Ward

We use a pet crate in a warm, dry area of our home to isolate any ill or recovering chickens. Any contagious or injured/weak birds should not remain with the rest of the flock to prevent disease spread and further injury from the other healthy birds.

Do you have a chicken first aid kit at home? If you have any more ideas or additions let me know in the comments! I will make updates as necessary to the post.