FLCK202 - Emergency Preparedness

Emergencies are one of those things you hope you never have to deal with, but you want to be prepared for if (or when) you do. Some situations we have come across include chickens getting frostbite on their combs, bullied and bleeding chickens, lethargic/sick chickens, and situations where extreme heat has posed a danger. Now, these situations might not constitute an emergency in the sense that every second counts, but animal health and safety is a top priority, and you should be prepared for a variety of situations.

1) Communication: If anything seems off or weird with a chicken or duck’s health, don’t hesitate to contact the owners right away. They may be aware of the situation and have some helpful advice for you, or it may be something new that you need to keep an eye on. You’re always better off contacting them sooner (better safe than sorry).

2) Vet Information: Before owners leave town, you should know if they have a veterinarian for their flock. We find that about 25-35% of our customers do, which is great in case of emergency. We had one instance of a very sick chicken that we took to Valley View Vet Clinic in Burnsville even though the family had never taken theirs to the vet and it made a huge difference. We keep a list of vets that see chickens in the metro area on the ‘Resources’ page of our website.

3) Transportation: In the unlikely scenario that you do need to take a chicken home or to the vet, you’ll want to keep something in your car to make transportation easy. We have a couple small, collapsible dog kennels that have worked great in the past. It’s never a requirement that you take a sick pet home or to the vet, but if you are comfortable doing so, it’s best to be prepared.

4) Coop Safety: When you visit properties you will encounter a variety of coops. Some will be less than ideal and leave space for predators to get in. No one wants to make a visit after a predator attack, so we suggest keeping a few things like carabiners, zip ties, scissors, and any other basic tools in your car if you need to make a quick enhancement to security.

Below is a checklist of some items to keep in your car for such occasions.