Backyard Chicken Care for Veterinary Technicians

1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-1-394-34944-9
Verlag: John Wiley & Sons Inc

Buch, Englisch, 352 Seiten

Clinical chicken care tailored for veterinary technicians and nursing teams

As backyard chicken flocks grow increasingly common, veterinary practices face rising demand for individual bird care, yet most poultry references target commercial production. Backyard Chicken Care for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses provides diagnostic, therapeutic, and nursing interventions designed for pet chickens. Organized by body system, this manual moves beyond flock-level culling approaches to deliver clinically actionable guidance supporting individualized patient treatment.

Coverage spans common breeds and breed-specific health concerns, incubation and hatching techniques, thoughtful coop design, environmental enrichment, and nutrition. Disease chapters present recommended diagnostic testing, treatment protocols, and nursing care measures. Common surgical procedures include step-by-step instructions for post-operative care and wound therapy, while discharge instructions and homecare recommendations support client education.

The book also includes: - A drug formulary listing common medications with specific uses, dosages, and contraindications for safe chicken treatment
- Guidance on emergency care protocols and humane euthanasia procedures to support difficult clinical decisions in practice
- Seasonal flock management strategies addressing housing adjustments, nutritional needs, and environmental controls throughout the year
- Nursing techniques for bandaging, fluid therapy, and supportive care measures specific to individual backyard chickens
- Detailed illustrations and practical reference materials designed for rapid consultation during clinical appointments and procedures

Designed for credentialed veterinary technicians, veterinary nurses, and veterinary assistants who encounter pet chickens in clinical practice, this manual provides the breed knowledge, diagnostic protocols, surgical nursing guidance, and therapeutic references needed to deliver confident, individualized care for backyard flocks.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Meyer, Sarah

Freeman, Stephanie

Fachgebiete

• Medizin | Veterinärmedizin Veterinärmedizin Veterinärmedizin: Tierpflege, Tierernährung
• Medizin | Veterinärmedizin Veterinärmedizin Veterinärmedizin: Groß- und Nutztiere
• Medizin | Veterinärmedizin Veterinärmedizin Veterinärmedizin: Haus- und Kleintiere

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Acknowledgment xxxiii

Acquiring Chickens and Common Breeds 1

Life Stages and End of Life 28

Husbandry, Housing, and Biosecurity 37

Nutritional Needs of Backyard Chickens 49

Behavior, Body Language, and Vocalizations 58

Physical Exam 69

Integumentary Diseases and External Parasites 79

Gastrointestinal Diseases and Internal Parasites 115

Cardiovascular and Respiratory Diseases 183

Reproductive Diseases 192

Viral, Bacterial, and Fungal Diseases 233

Musculoskeletal Diseases and Disorders 308

Neurologic, Ophthalmic, and Aural Diseases 349

Anesthesia, Common Surgical Procedures, and Postoperative Care 381

Emergent Care and Wound Management 391

Common Drug Therapies and Euthanasia 417

Client Education and Patient Discharge Instructions 428

Index 000

Über Autor(innen)

Sarah Meyer, CVT, FVTE, is Assistant Professor and Program Director of Veterinary Technology at Pensacola State College. A Fellow in Veterinary Technician Education and Academy of Teaching Excellence inductee, she has over 30 years of experience in chicken husbandry and clinical practice spanning farm animal medical and surgical nursing, small animal critical care, and veterinary education.

Stephanie Freeman, CVT, is Lead Credentialed Veterinary Technician at Companion Animal Clinic. A graduate of Pensacola State College's Veterinary Technology Program, she brings over 20 years of clinical and personal veterinary nursing care experience with chickens and other poultry species to daily practice.