15 Must-Have Items in Your Chicken First-Aid Kit

One of the best parts of keeping chickens is how easy it is to keep them happy and healthy. With that said, the occasional chicken injury and illness are inevitable. That’s why having a well-supplied chicken first-aid kit is crucial.

Your first-aid kit will consist of many items you already have at home or ones that are easy to find. Let’s take a look at must-have items for your kit!

1. Pet Crate

A pet crate or carrier is ideal for containing your injured or sick chicken. Be sure to make it cozy like you would its coop. Your chicken needs a place to rest and stay warm and stress-free while it’s healing. The crate is also helpful if you end up needing to carry your chicken to the vet.

2. Clean Towel

This one’s pretty simple, but having a clean towel on hand is perfect for covering the surface you’re using while treating your sick or injured chicken.

3. Bandages

Keep a variety of bandages including gauze and medical tape in your chicken first-aid kit. This will come in handy for cuts, scrapes, and other wounds your chicken may encounter from a predator or coming in contact with a harmful object in the environment.

Vetrap bandage wraps are perfect for chickens because they provide compression support and protect wounds without sticking to the feathers and pulling them when the bandage is removed.

4. Disposable Gloves

If you’re prone to feeling squeamish when handling injuries, wear gloves to feel better while you’re tending to your injured chicken. Wearing gloves can also help prevent the spread of germs and infection.

5. Syringe or Dropper

A syringe or dropper is a must-have for dosing and providing medicine to your sick or injured chicken. This can also come in handy if you have a dehydrated chicken and want to make sure it’s getting enough water.

6. Saline Solution

7. Non-Stick Gauze Pads

This is another straightforward but very necessary addition to your chicken first-aid kit. Use a gauze pad to clean the affected area of your hurt chicken after you’ve applied the saline solution.

8. Antiseptic Product

Using an antiseptic product such as Blu-Kote is another healing aid for chicken injuries. It can fight potential bacterial or fungal infections from occurring. Apply this after you’ve treated the wound.

9. Coconut Oil or Vaseline

Lubrication is necessary if your chicken is experiencing frostbite, leg mites, egg binding, or a similar ailment. Coconut oil or Vaseline can be used as a treatment when lubricant is needed. You can also apply the product to prevent these issues by putting in on your chicken’s combs and wattles periodically before they roost in the evenings.

10. Antibiotic Ointment

An antibiotic ointment like Neosporin can help speed up the healing of your chicken’s injury. It can also be used for Bumblefoot, a common condition where a chicken’s foot may swell, turn red, and scab over. Just make sure the Neosporin does NOT have painkillers. It is toxic for chickens.

11. Styptic Powder

Sometimes chicken’s nails, beaks, or wounds bleed. When this happens, you can use Styptic Powder to slow or stop the bleeding. Put some of the powder into a separate container or bowl and dip the part of your chicken’s body that’s bleeding into the powder or pour the powder onto the affected area. You can also use Cornstarch for this.

12. Epsom Salts

Epsom Salts are always good to have in your chicken first-aid kit. They can be used for all sorts of chicken ailments including Bumblefoot (as previously mentioned), egg binding, and other common chicken illnesses.

13. Nail Trimmers

Treat your flock to a manicure periodically. You can prevent some injuries by keeping your chickens’ nails and spurs trimmed. 

14. Tweezers

Foreign objects like dirt, glass, debris, or splinters are sometimes the cause of a chicken injury. The quicker you can get it out, the better. Tweezers are great for this!

15. Vet Information

Have your vet’s contact information on hand in your kit in case your chicken needs further care. While many chicken ailments can be handled right at home, some illnesses or injuries will need medical attention. Your vet can also prescribe antibiotics for chickens if needed.

Chicken First-Aid Kit Key Takeaways

While there are other items such as different medications and at-home remedies you may want to include, these 15 items are the most basic and important ones for your chicken first-aid kit. And, of course, you’ll want to have a box or container that everything fits nicely into. Keep your kit handy so that if you’re faced with a sick or hurt chicken, you’ll have the essentials conveniently available to get your chicken feeling great in no time!