Be-Ready Products
Products thats good to have home
DISCLAMIER: I am not an expert, this is my personal opinion and experience.
It gives your birds an extra boost during molting season. They also have products for digestive care. I used this one to help when I dewormed one of my hens for tapeworm.
A must-have at home! If you have a lethargic bird, most of the time this can be improved by giving it some extra vitamins. I give this to my wry neck hen twice a month, but I also add it to everyone's water once a week. The rest of the time, I provide vitamins through their food.
This is a must-have at home if you have laying hens. An Epsom salt bath can be crucial if a hen becomes eggbound, as it moisturizes the skin and makes it easier for the egg to pass.
I've also used Epsom salt for bumblefoot, which is amazing. It helps remove that nasty scab much faster!
It works amazingly on hard scabs and is also great for ducks' sensitive feet. Ducks can develop cracks in their feet, and when I've seen this in mine, I've used this oil. Right now, I'm using it on my drake for some wounds caused by bullying.
Lavender also has a natural pest-repellent effect, as well as a calming effect.
This works wonders on small scrapes and wounds! I've mostly come to use it when my waterfowl get into fights, to help patch them up. I also apply it to any questionable skin areas.
his is mostly used for parrots or indoor birds as a supplement, but it works amazingly well for poultry too. It's designed to support birds during times when they need an extra vitamin boost, such as during breeding, molting, or illness.
I use this as a supplement during molting season, and I also add it to the booster meals they get once a week. I always keep some on hand in case a bird needs an extra boost.
This is an excellent supplement during winter when fresh grass is scarce or unavailable (as it is in my area). I give it to my chickens once a week as a booster meal, together with other beneficial foods.
I first got this when I thought one of my hens had diarrhea. Probiotics help support gut health, and much of the immune system depends on a healthy gut. Poultry can easily get diarrhea for various reasons, so it's good to have probiotics on hand at home.
Every animal owner should have some type of Critical Care at home. It makes things much easier if an animal is having a hard time eating. Critical Care is a powder designed for stressed, injured, or sick animals. Most products are made for rabbits, but I've found one that is also suitable for birds, which has come in handy many times.
Vitamin E Supplements
A must if you own Silkies! Wry Neck is all too common in this breed and can strike at any time. The most common cause of Wry Neck is a Vitamin E deficiency.
Most Vitamin E supplements also contain selenium, which can be problematic because selenium is toxic in high doses. (Vitamin E needs selenium to work, though.) To avoid worrying about selenium toxicity, I make sure to have a pure Vitamin E product.
High doses of Vitamin E can still be toxic, but it requires much higher amounts over a longer period of time. Having a pure Vitamin E product has made it much easier to treat Wry Neck in my birds.
We had a really hot summer, and with my blind hen struggling to get enough fluids, I wanted to have electrolytes on hand. I had a hard time finding products specifically for birds, so I asked my vet. She said, "Buy fluid replacement for kids."
I've never really had to use them, but it feels good to have them ready in case a bird suffers from heatstroke.
Liquid Calcium
I originally got this for my turtle, but it works well for poultry too. It's useful if you have a hen that struggles with soft-shelled eggs or isn't getting enough calcium from her diet. Keep in mind that too much calcium can be toxic for the kidneys..
Herbmix
I thought I'd include this. Many herbs are beneficial for birds' immune systems, but it's hard to provide enough fresh herbs unless you're an expert gardener.
I bought this mainly because I like to spoil my birds and wanted to include it in my "booster meal" recipe. I just discovered this brand, but so far I'm happy with their products. They offer a wide range of herb-based supplements for poultry.
One downside is that this product contains quite a lot of calcium, as well as a small percentage of garlic.
Of course, you don't need every single one of these products. Like with any pet, I enjoy spoiling mine, but I also like to be prepared. Chickens, in particular, can be prone to many diseases, and my belief is that by keeping their immune systems strong, I can help prevent illness for as long as possible.