What to Buy for Chicken Care
Basic Supplies
Hatching
Hobbles — for splay leg. This is what you will want to use if your hatchling develops splay leg from a slippery surface.
Painters Tape — for curly toes. If your hatchling’s toes are curled under, stick the toes to the tape and arrange them as they should be. Fold the tape over and press it together between the toes. Remove the excess tape. Leave on for 24 hours and recheck.
Brooder
Rabbit Waterer: I far prefer this to a basin or bowl. They can’t kick shavings into it nor can they drown in it. To clean it, put some dry rice, some dish soap, and some hot water in it, shake vigorously and rinse.
Medicated Chick Starter: Medicated works against coccidiosis which can take your chickie from perky to dead in an afternoon.
Lizard Lamp or Brooder Plate: I use Lizard Bulbs as they don’t emit light and allow the chicks to get accustomed to night and day. They are also far less of a fire-hazard. That said, the Brooder Plates are the best bet, though a lot more money.
Shavings & Wood Pellets: I use both shavings and wood pellets. The pellets are great for absorbing moisture, the shavings help the chicks keep their footing. Pellets roll too much and you don’t want slippage as it leads to splay leg.
Medical Kit
Injury
Bumble Foot Care: Bumble foot is the problem I deal with the most. A bird gets a small wound from a thorn or what-not and it gets infected. Lots of info on-line on how to deal with it. Here is what I use.
Rubber Gloves as well as Eye and Face Protection. Bumblefoot is a staph infection and you don’t want that on your skin or around your face.
Epsom Salt: Soak your ailing birdie in a warm epsom salt bath before you begin. This will feel good and the bath will clean the feet for you.
PRID drawing salve: this is amazing stuff. Always try this prior to getting out the Surgical Kit and needles.
Surgical Kit: I hate having to do this, but it is part of the responsibility.
Vet Wrap — for holding the bandages on.
Antibiotics, Syringes and Needles: get these at the local feed store.
Gauze Pads and Vet Wrap: to package up the foot afterwards.
Ailments
Vet Rx: If you hear a sniffle or a sneeze or a wheeze, add Vet Rx to their water immediately and dip a Q-tip into the bottle and dab it under Ms. Sniffles wingpits. It is a miracle cure.
NutraDrench: If any one looks off or you are worried about them, add NutraDrench to their water as well. I use the NutraDrench and the Vet Rx together.
Corid (Amprolium): Coccidiosis is a common dirt-born problem for chicks. There is so much written about it that is easily available through Google that I am not going to rewrite it all. You want to have some of this on hand because once it strikes, you don’t have a lot of time.
Obviously it would be very costly to purchase all this right off the bat. You won’t need the bumblefoot stuff until they go outside, so wait on that. If your feedstore runs sales, watch those and grab the Corid on discount if you can.
I would recommend the VetRx and Nutri-Drench right away though. I have had so many chicks that were doing poorly at bedtime make full recovery by morning with a little of these in their water.
