Information & Blogs Chicken Health Top Winter Tips for a Healthy Flock

Author: Aussie Chook Supplies

Winter is the best time to address possible health issues that could affect or delay egg laying come spring time. And it’s a great way to stay warm on a cold day… so get ahead of things by doing these tasks when the sun is shining for a healthier flock and less work in Spring.

Change the coop bedding

Deep litter method is by far and away the easiest way to maintain a coop with minimal ongoing work (more on this topic coming soon). Those of us who know and follow this awesome floor bedding method, winter is the best time to scoop out the extra dry composted materials that you don’t want in the coop and and add a nice thick layer of dry, fresh material.
For those non-deep litter followers, a thorough clean out of the coop of old materials is great to do on a sunny winter day when the flock have some time out and about. Limewashing the interior of a wooden coop will help to keep those creepy crawlies at bay but ensure that the coop is nice and dry before adding clean bedding materials.
If you don’t want to limewash, close the coop up and set off a fleabomb inside. This will definitely get into those nooks and crannies and can save a lot of heartache in the warmer months regarding the possibility of red mite infestations. Make sure you air the coop out well to get rid of fumes before locking everyone up for the night…

Not only will the chances of winter respiratory issues decrease with a clean layer of bedding but your chooks will love having new bedding to burrow into on cold winter days.

Keeping Their Run Area Dry

A covered run area is always the ideal for disease prevention and keeping things dry but this isn’t always an viable option. The second best way to keep mud away from the feet of your flock is a beautiful thick layer of chunky mulch. Mulch allowed great drainage of water when it rains and allows your Flock to get exercise kicking it all over looking for bugs.
Easily purchased from Bunnings by the bag means that you can carry, slice and spread where needed but to keep costs down overall do the ring around your local landscaping supply centres and see who can deliver to you for the best price. Make sure your wheelbarrow tyre is fully pumped for this option, as carrying buckets too and fro is very annoying (trust me on this one!).

Worm your entire flock (if over 3 months of age)

The most common worms that infect chickens are the common roundworm (they are the ones that look like moving thin noodles) and are easily treated with a Piperazine-based worming treatment. Allfarm Piperazine Wormer Crumble is a great product as it will treat the worms as well as help to repair gut damage with it’s vitamin/amino acid/trace element supplement that make the crumble. There is also no withholding period for this product, so if you are lucky enough to still have eggs you can eat them with no worries of product trace in your googglies.
For a treatment that covers all poultry worms, Avitrol Plus is a great option and is available as a syrup (best added to drinking water with a splash of cordial to negate the yucky taste) or as a tablet for individual dosing (much easier to do than you think)… There is a lot of speculation about this product and withholding periods so please read the links in the product descriptions to ensure you are making the best decision for your flock and individual situation.

General Health Checkover

While you are outside with your flock, take the opportunity to pick them up and give them a quick once over. You want them to have a good weight in hand and have a look around their bottom and under the wings for red mite and/or poultry lice. If you spot any, Pestene Powder is the fastest treatment for both (given that they live off different components of a chicken). If you prefer a product made with natural ingredients, Allfarm Poultry Powder Feather & Skin Conditioner is a great option. Nostrils should be clear from bubbles/congestion and eyes should be bright and clear.

Treat Scaly Leg Mite and Prevent Future Red Mite Infestations

When giving your girls the individual once over, it is easy to check the healthy of their legs for any signs of Scaly Leg Mite. A great natural solution is Allfarm Barrier Butter which will have no withholding period (no egg residue) and will soothe the itching and irritation your chook will experience with scaly leg mite.

Whether you currently have a red mite issue or not, Aussie Chook Supplies is proud to be the exclusive supplier of Alphamite DW, which is an organic treatment for the red mite. After an intial treatment period of 4 days, you simply need to offer it in the drinking water for the last two days of every month (following the treatment schedule on the link) and you will have no more issues with Red Mite. It is as simple as adding 5mls to 10L of drinking water. How awesome is that!!!

Keeping your Flock Healthy and Happy

Chickens enjoy a treat every now and then to keep them healthy, happy and stimulated. A head of green cabbage hung above head height encourages them to jump and peck, which is part of their natural behaviour. They also love a warm treat to those frosty mornings – many chicken keepers make a “mash” of cooked porridge, finely diced vegie scraps, boiled eggs, dried mealworms, rice/pasta/mixed scratch grain/pellets for their flock (and anything else you want to add)… but stand back as it gets demolished. An essential addition to any mash by chicken keepers Australia-wide is our Healthy Chook Spice Mix (or if there are a bit of sniffles and runny noses – our Respiratory Support Spice Mix) which is a great immune boosting formula with anti-inflammatory and general health boosting ingredients.

In line with the increasing research that shows that by improving gut health in all animals (not just Humans and Poultry) you can significantly decrease illness and increase health, vitality and increase immune responses (and with it, the ability to tolerate weather changes that can trigger off stress reponses) Aussie Chook Supplies now offers a Poultry Probiotic Pack, containing prebiotic base mix (Apple Pomace and Spice Mix) and a probiotic liquid (Fermented Herbal Extract Probiotic Liquid). Simply mix the two components together in a large bowl (if fluffs up to quite a large quantity), feed as required and store the extra in the fridge for future use. It’s great value for money and for best results, feed all year around.

And… the moment we have all been waiting for. Egg time!!!!

As your egg numbers start to increase after the Winter Solstice, a Tough Egg Tray will provide a boost of vitamins and trace elements necessary for good quality egg laying. Otherwise, a Maintenance Peck Tray makes a great boredom buster with benefits.

So that’s it folks… a bit of work should ensure that your Feathered Family Members have the best health over the cold winter period and the best start to egg laying in Spring!!!

IMPORTANT NOTICE

It is important to Aussie Chook Supplies that you are satisfied with your purchase of our products. The following conditions are strictly applied to all returns and requests for refund or exchange.

All return products for either refund or exchange, as the case may be, must be in new and unused condition, with complete packaging and tags still intact excluding approved warranty claims.

Change of mind

You may apply for a partial refund for change of mind.
If you change your mind after your order has been dispatched, any refund will be assessed and calculated when the items have been returned at your cost to Aussie Chook Supplies.
Items returned to Aussie Chook Supplies for a partial refund must be sent by Australia Post with tracking number details forwarded to us.
Customers who request a refund for change of mind will be refunded their full amount less 15% administration and handling fee.
An administration and handlingfee of 15% fee will also apply to items on backorder/pre-order/or under dropshipping arrangements.
Requests for returns and refunds must be made in writing by the Customer and emailed to accounts@aussiechooksupplies.com.au.

Exchange

All exchange requests must be received within 14 days of your purchase. Items must be returned unused with tags still attached.
Please contact Aussie Chook Supplies at accounts@aussiechooksupplies.com.au with the following details:
1. Your name
2. Order number
3. Phone number
4. Email address
5. Postal address
We will respond to your exchange request within two(3)business days of receipt of your email with instructions on how to proceed further with your request.

Address for the return of items

Please seal your item using appropriate protective postage satchels and return by Australia Post ensuring that you use a trackable label and service.
Please post items to:

Aussie Chook Supplies
P.O. Box 7111
Cranbourne West VIC 3977

Aussie Chook Supplies does not accept responsibility for items posted to us by you.
Please ensure all requested information is contained within the parcel so we can identify you as the correct Customer.

Postage fee management

Aussie Chook Supplies will reimburse you for the costs of return postage where we have made an error (e.g. despatching an incorrect item or to an incorrect postal address) using standard Australian Post service.
If you change your mind we’ll happily provide you with an exchange or credit voucher for a future purchase; however, you will be liable for return postage fees.

Faulty or defective items

Aussie Chook Supplies reserves the right to inspect and assess the condition of returned merchandise that appears to have been used before processing a refund or exchange.
We will happily provide a full refund and reimburse you for the cost of return shipping via standard Australia Post where the item is deemed to have a genuine manufacturers fault or defect under the following conditions:
1. You must notify Aussie Chook Supplies immediately upon noticing any defects or faults within seven (7) days of receiving the order and provide your name, order number and details of the defects or faults and a photo of the item and defect or fault.
2. Items, the subject of a refund request, once received by Aussie Chook Supplies, will be examined for faults or defects. You will receive a notification from us about whether we agree that the items are faulty or defective within 48 hours of the receipt of items by us.
3. If deemed faulty by Aussie Chook Supplies, a replacement item will be shipped where possible (subject to stock availability), or a refund will be issued.
4. Returns will be processed within ten (10) business days from the day the return arrives at Aussie Chook Supplies Office.

Refunds in General

When the returned item is received, examined and a refund is approved, an email will be sent to the Customer confirming refund approval.
Please allow 3-5 working days for your return item to be examined and approved.
Please allow 5-10 days for your refund to appear using the same method that your payment was made (i.e. If you paid using PayPal, your refund will appear in your PayPal account).

Refunds for products in the Peck Block range

Due to the unique ingredients in Allfarm Maintenance , Allfarm Salt Bush,Tough Egg and Healthy Chook Peck Blocks which may cause the item to crumble or break apart, refunds are not available unless these items are returned in full solid block form in original sealed packaging.

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Top Winter Tips for a Healthy Flock