Category Archives: Chicken Vet Corner Files

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”