Elderly cat breathing difficulties when purring

[Happy chickens!]

Hi

 

My hens seem to be healthy (touch wood), but have been reading a lot on this forum about all the potential probs, so I'm looking at stocking up on some of the preventative/common stuff. My list so far seems to be:

- poultry spice as a general tonic

- red mite powder; I like the sound of Diatom, it sounds more natural, but does it work?

- worming stuff, Verm x seems to be recommended

- iodine for pecks

- anything else?

 

The more I read, the more confusing it gets, please help!

 

Thanks.

[katieandnick]

Hi,

 

I don't think Vermex is recommended by us Omleteers to be honest - Flubenvet is the gold standard. I also swear by garlic powder and apple cider vinegar. Also citricidal for when they get the sniffles.

[chickenanne]

It's so easy to succumb to chicken hypochindria - particularly on fora where people post about the problems they're having!

I think is worth having something to clean wounds with. I've used salty water in the past which has worked fine, followed by purple antispetic wound spray is great as it discourages pecking at wounds.

Grit, of course.

And wormer, which you need to use reasonably regularly - we do ours twice a year, becuase they free range they will be in contact with wild birds (lots of geese!) and pick things up that way.

Lice and mite powder is also an essential.

I have poultry spice and garlic powder, but don't use them much - ultimately good quality fresh layers pellets contain what they need. I wouldn't worry about getting them.

[chelsea]

definitely a wormer is an essential in a basic hen first aid box, we have always used flubenbet and never had any problems.

 

Poultry spice and red mite powder can go on the list too.

 

As you go along you can build up your chicken miscellanous bits over time.

[Happy chickens!]

Thanks - I'll add the chicken hypochondria to the obsessive chicken disorder I seem to have acquired recently...

[SnowWhite]

I give mine echinacea when they have the sneezes!

 

But now I think about it I am the worst chicken hypochondriac there is, everyday I imagine they have another ailment (which they do not) and that I should research another natural remedy (which they don't need) and I should buy some potion just in case I need it in an emergency (seriously?!).....

 

I spend more on the girls than I do on myself. The truth is they don't need a lot more than a good diet and the occasional treat.