Chicken Services

A chicken health full-body examination starts by observing the bird from the distance; this is the easiest way to notice if there is any behavioral change or alarming sign that we should feel concerned about. Afterward, we proceed to examine: head, neck, eyes, nostrils, beak, feathers, vent, breast muscle, wings, legs and feet.

Birds can carry diseases that will not only harm them, but that can also be passed to humans, such as: E.coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Chlamydia and Avian TB. For this reason, regular laboratory testing is fundamental. We do dropping tests for coccidia, worms and other parasites, together with lead testing and a range of other blood tests.

Blood collection is fundamental to obtain baseline measurements, and the most common site of venipuncture is in the brachial vein, which is easily located in the wing; however, blood can also be collected from other veins such as the metatarsal vein or the jugular vein, due to the fact that veins in chickens are more superficial compared to other animals.

It is easier preventing parasites than treating them, and the best way to avoid complications and diseases to spread is through vaccination, especially on birds who are social animals and tend to live in folks. Some parasites can be treated with lotions, powder or flowers of sulfur baths, but it is better if your pets don’t have to go through that.

Make sure that your chickens are vaccinated for Marek’s disease (in order to prevent mycoplasmosis) and for pox. Also, deworm them regularly, and to avoid mite infestations, try to buy plastic coops.

A chicken’s lifespan is of 9 to 12 years, approximately, but most of these old friends develop respiratory diseases, reproductive tract malfunctions, blockages in their intestinal tracts and very often cancerous tumors. It is crucial to have them checked by a poultry vet to prevent complications and to discard issues such as: arthritis, egg failure, joint inflammation, avian urolithiasis (visceral gout), ascites, adenocarcinoma and salpingitis; apart from taking care of aspects like nail clipping and administering calcium supplements.

As your fluffy companions get older, there are measures that you want to take in order to make their lives easier; these include: changing their feed to crumbles, lowering their roosts and providing calcium supplements, among others.

Despite this, sometimes their life quality diminishes to a point where the kinder thing to do is to euthanize, which is the only way to prevent them from pain and suffering. At Healthy Paws, we guide you through this difficult process and we support you every step of the way.

At Healthy Paws, we help you take care of your fluffy companions by providing: vaccinations, deworming every 6 months to avoid: coccidia, tapeworms and roundworms; as well as external parasite control with parasiticides for mites, lice and fleas.