Category Archives: Chicken Vet Corner Files

Slipped Tendon: The gastrocnemius tendon runs behind the hock joint, similar to theAchilles tendon in a human.  In a healthy chick, it sits in a grooveat the back of the hock.  If that tendon slips out, it usually slipsto the inside or outside of the joint, causing the leg to twistbackward or outward.  You canContinue reading “Slipped Tendon”

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10D8y2P_Q6U7C7nnV7f0T5JuQZiECzZl2-CcffH2j08k/edit?gid=0#gid=0 Click link above to access the list!

Flystrike (Myasis) occurs when adult flies lay their eggs in a chicken’s skin/body in a moist wound, skin lesion or soiled coat (below the vent). The larvae will then move around the wound surface eating dead cells, secretions, debris, etc., irritating, injuring or killing additional layers of sking that will then produce exudates and lesionsContinue reading “Flystrike”

By Elena Johnson CVC AC How long are fresh eggs good for in the fridge?  6 months Once refrigerated, they must continue to stay in the fridge until use but will stay good up to 6 months (or more). Fresh eggs are very hardy. Store bought eggs can be an average of 3 weeks toContinue reading “Fresh Eggs In The Fridge: How Long Are They Good For”

By Elena Johnson CVC AC All eggs may not be fertile even if the hen has mated with a rooster. It takes 7-10 days for the sperm to reach the oviduct where the eggs are made. However, her eggs will remain fertile, even if she doesn’t mate again for around 2-3 weeks after mating. FertilityContinue reading “Fertile Eggs: How to Spot Them”

By Elena Johnson CVC AC Pendulous crop is an abnormal condition in chickens where the crop becomes distended from it’s normal position and fills with invested feed and fluid. Chickens who are raised entirely on pelleted feed are more at risk of developing this as a result of the modification of gut flow due toContinue reading “Pendulus Crop”

By Elena Johnson CVC AC Angel Wing: also known as slipped wing or dropped wing, is where the wing joint deforms and twists. The growing primary feathers are full of blood which make it heavy and can cause the wing to twist and drop. This causes the feathers to stick out at an odd angle, usuallyContinue reading “Geese Angel Wing”

By Elena Johnson CVC AC Yes, hens can crow. It’s not as loud as a rooster but not uncommon in flocks of all hens.  In many cases the dominant hen will become the protector of the flock, in addition to the half crow, she may cease to lay eggs and even grow spurs to rivalContinue reading “Hens Can Crow”

By Elena Johnson CVC AC Chickens can’t sweat so you do not want to wet them down, this does inhibit the same down that keeps them warm from helping them cool. A misting fan helps, kiddie pools in the shade, shade and air flow is key to keeping them cool. The coop should have aContinue reading “Hot Weather Tips”

By Elena Johnson CVC AC It takes 25 hours to form an egg, 18-20 of those hours is spent on shell formation. In those hours, the hen uses and replaces the calcium carried in the bloodstream up to 100 times. The calcium required to make shells must be provided in the hen’s diet as fast-releasedContinue reading “Oyster Shell Soft Shelled Eggs”

By Elena Johnson CVC AC SDS (sudden death syndrome) is a metabolic condition which occurs most often in commercial broilers and related Cornish breeds. Chickens exhibit a sudden attack just prior to death (37-69 seconds) characterized by loss of balance, strong muscle contractions and violent flapping of their wings. The loss of balance and flappingContinue reading “Sudden Death Syndrome”

By Elena Johnson CVC AC More than you wanted to know about the cause of “Lash Eggs” and Salpingitis. Instead of getting your expected egg in the nesting box, one day you may come into the surprise of finding an egg-shaped ball of caseous exudate.  Caseous means “resembling cheese or curd” and an exudate isContinue reading “Lash Eggs: What To Know”

By Elena Johnson CVC AC Some breeds of roosters are naturally more aggressive, Rhode Island Reds are notoriously difficult. You must first understand why roosters attack. It’s just a fact of chickens that there is a pecking order,  if you don’t have a rooster, you will also see this in your hens. One will takeContinue reading “Roosters: How to Tame them”

By Elena Johnson CVC AC Turkeys have different nutritional requirements than chickens and usually should be kept separate from chickens because of this and diseases such as Black Head (Histomoniasis) which is usually fatal in young poults. Chickens can serve as the host for the cecal worm and therefore the Histomonas parasite. There is noContinue reading “Turkey Nutrition & Other Facts”

By Elena Johnson CVC AC Chicks should be on Chick Starter crumbles. The first couple days of a chick’s life is very important when speaking of nutrition. The first day chicks should be given Grogel, this is something you mix with water that turns into a bright green gel that attracts the chicks to feed.Continue reading “Chicks Nutrition”

By Elena Johnson CVC AC Ducks, unlike other poultry, do not actually require “protein” but the individual amino acids contained in dietary proteins. The proteins in the diet are broken down during digestion to amino acids which are absorbed and used by the duck to make its own body proteins, such as those in muscleContinue reading “Duck Nutrition”

By Elena Johnson CVC AC Regarding Coop & Run sand I use construction sand 4-6 inches in the run and coop. You don’t want sand that packs down when you walk in it or squeeze it in your hand, so no play sand because it is crushed quartz or patio sand used for a baseContinue reading “Chicken Coop”

By Elena Johnson CVC AC Bruising in chickens is often indicative of a crush injury. It appears as a greenish discoloration of the skin. The green color is the result of the accumulation of biliverdin accumulation, which occurs after hemoglobin is broken down. Bruising generally takes about 2 to 3 days post injury to becomeContinue reading “Bruising”

By Elena Johsnon CVC AC If you’re not hatching out eggs, you must break broodiness as soon as it starts, or your hen is going to suffer from malnutrition. They will sit on eggs and only leave the nest once a day, if that, to eat, drink and poop. This is very unhealthy for themContinue reading “Broody Hens”

By Elena Johnson CVC AC Apple Cider Vinegar, ACV (acetic acid) actually lowers the amounts of good bacteria in the crop and digestive tract and there are not enough studies from actual poultry experts to show it has any health benefits at all and the internet claims are grossly exaggerated. By killing good bacteria, itContinue reading “Apple Cider Vinegar”

By Elena Johnson CVC AC We get a lot of questions on feeding your laying hens, so I’ve put together a feeding guide that may help get you on the right track. Nutrition is key to keeping your flock healthy. You should only feed a good quality layer feed, (16% protein), Grit, clean water andContinue reading “Chicken Nutrition”

By Elena Johnson – CVC AC Here is a link explaining all things feather loss: The Avice Hub – Feather Loss It is important to make sure your chickens are naturally molting and not infested with mites or lice so make sure to check under the wings and near the vent for parasites. You canContinue reading “Feather Loss”

Metronidazole, Ronidazole, Tinidazole and any -zole antiprotozoal medication. They are illegal to use in food producing species in the United States and carry a lifetime egg withdrawal if used. The FDA considers ALL poultry a food producing species, even if you consider them “pets”. This is PROHIBITED for both male and female birds of ALL food producing animals:Continue reading “Meds to stay away from”

By Becky Salinger A word about why Baytril (enrofloxacin) and all other flouroquinolones are banned for use in poultry in the US. It is illegal for any veterinarian to prescribe any flouroquinolone for any chicken, duck etc. Yes it works, yes it sucks- but it’s for the greater good. Sadly or surprisingly a lot ofContinue reading “Flouroquinolones (Baytril)”

Sevin Dust, most Doktor Doom, and any pesticides not labeled for poultry, including all the topical flea and tick meds labeled for cats and dogs, all are illegal in the USA. Pesticides have no allowable off-label usage per the EPA. They must be directly labeled for poultry and the application directions must be followed toContinue reading “Sevin Dust: What To Know”

In collaboration with Allie Krapiec Using diatomaceous earth (DE) in chicken dust baths is common, but it has real risks for both chickens and humans, especially depending on the type and how it’s applied. Diatoms are single-celled algae that inhabit streams, lakes, oceans and other waterways. Fossilized diatoms, whose cell walls are made of silica,Continue reading “Diatomaceous Earth (DE): What To Know”

Blu-Kote/Red-Kote, scarlet oil OR similar products are harsh on wounds, damage tissue and slow healing. They are mainly rubbing alcohol and we all know how great that feels on small cut, let alone a gaping wound. They delay healing because it damages healthy tissue due to the high alcohol content. These are NOT regulated byContinue reading “Blu-Kote: What To Know”