Everyday Items For A Chicken First Aid Kit

While these home remedies can not replace the expertise of a veterinarian, they have been life savers for us when veterinary care was not available.

Reader Contribution by Kristen Tool
Updated on March 8, 2022
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by Flickr/skatercrazee13

Every farmer and backyard chicken keeper wants their birds to live happy, healthy lives- but sometimes chickens get sick or are injured and it can be challenging finding veterinary care. Chickens often do not show signs of illness until they are close to death, so preventative measures like making sure your flock always has clean water and food, fresh bedding, good ventilation, and safety from predators and parasites are all very important factors to keeping a healthy flock. 

But what happens if a neighborhood dog grabs a hen and she has an opened wounds? Or you notice a chicken with one eye closed all of a sudden? How can you prevent large-combed chickens from getting frostbite on their combs and wattles? We have been raising laying hens for going on eight years and have learned a lot of tricks along the way- by trial and error and out of necessity. 

One must-have chicken first aid item can be purchased at your local feed store and is called Blu Kote. Blu Kote comes in either spray or a brush for topical application, make sure you read the product label for directions and special considerations. We have used Blu Kote on hens with bare backs from over mating. When chickens see exposed skin they tend to peck, and can really do damage to one another. Blu Kote is a dark blue/ purple color and once applied deters chickens from pecking exposed skin so the birds can feather back out and heal. 

Aside from what you find at the local feed store, there are many items you can find ‘around the house’ for preventative and first aid use with your chickens. Below are the top 10 everyday items we for our chickens. 

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