With the laws that took effect in January 2017, finding a veterinarian that understands poultry becomes more crucial than ever. Not many veterinarians understand poultry medicine. Even avian specialists may be more knowledgeable about exotic birds than about backyard chickens or waterfowl. However, one of the advantages of the FDA Regulations regarding the use of antimicrobials for poultry is that in the future we can expect to see an ever-increasing number of veterinarians who specialize in poultry. Meanwhile, below are some of the most reliable websites for finding information about poultry health and wellness. NPIP Participants helps you find hatcheries, dealers, and independent flock owners who participate in the National Poultry Improvement Plan; purchasing your birds from an NPIP member such as Cackle Hatchery ensures your flock has a healthy start.
Biosecurity for Backyard Chickens by Kathy Shea Mormino, aka “The Chicken Chick,” describes basic measures you can take to protect your flock from infectious diseases.
Biosecurity for Backyard Chicken Keepers by chicken owner and nurse practitioner Melissa Caughey describes signs of a sick chicken, what you should do when a bird falls ill and how to keep your flock healthy.
Small and Backyard Flocks, maintained by the Cooperative Extension System, offers articles, videos and webinars on biosecurity and other aspects of keeping backyard poultry.
Avian Influenza Facebook page, also maintained by Extension, offers general information on poultry health, with emphasis on bird flu, and gives you the opportunity to ask a poultry vet questions about your flock’s health.
Common diseases that people can get from poultry, posted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, describes potential human health risks of keeping backyard poultry, along with tips on how you can protect yourself and your family from illness.
Find a Vet helps you find the nearest member of the Association of Avian Veterinarians who specializes in bird medicine, which may or may not include poultry or waterfowl.
Find an ABVP Diplomate lists members of the American Board of Veterinary Practioners who have gone through a program of rigorous training and examinations to qualify as avian specialists.
Poultry Veterinarians and Hospitals maintained by the American Poultry Association, lists veterinarians who specifically specialize in backyard poultry species.
Poultry and waterfowl vets, maintained by the Backyard Chickens online forum, also lists veterinarians who specialize in backyard poultry and waterfowl.
Session with the Chicken Doctor offers a one-on-one telephone consultation with Peter Brown of First State Vet Supply for anyone who seeks information about a specific poultry health problem.
Keeping your chickens healthy is not difficult, and neither is finding excellent poultry health information on the internet, provided you remain cautious about judging the reliability of information you find online.
And that’s today’s news from the Cackle Coop.
Gail Damerow, author, The Chicken Health Handbook