Hmm...i received a chicken a while back. yes, one single lonely little chick. It is more of a pet than anything...and as such, i feel responsible for it's wellbeing. Im just curiose if there are any vaccines or anything i have to give it? also, it spends alot of time in the house. It doesnt leave too much of a mess...and what it does...ahem...leave behind...is easily taken care of. But are there any diseases or pests i have to worry about?

thanks

Oh, what are some good names for a chicken? lol mr.peepers,it's given name, seems a little too corny.

-- D (Muhawi@aol.com), July 17, 2001

Answers

Being that's you're only chicken, and you keep him in the house i wouldn't worry too much about vaccines or illnesses.

However, if you ever decided to get mr. peepers a friend, you might quarantine the new guy for a week or so to make sure he has no illnesses that will spread to you're already healthy bird.

Here's a site with common ailments of poultry for you to check out:

http://www.surrey.ac.uk/~cus1fb/fowl/Ailments.html

I like the name mr. peepers. don't think it's corny at all. Now, a corny name would be Rosie....that's one of my pet roosters we *thought* was a she once upon a time. :-)

-- Buk Buk (bukabuk@hotmail.com), July 17, 2001.

D - For a small backyard flock, I really don't think any vaccines are necessary for chickens. I've had chickens for 2 1/2 years now and have never given any. I've had very good luck with mine. I feel the main thing is keeping things clean - clean water, clean feed - mine either run out or are moved to fresh grass in a chicken tractor each day.

-- Mel Carroll (frank.a.carroll@worldnet.att.net), July 17, 2001.

Thankyou for your answers, i feel a little better now...and that website helped. But ive noticed alot of cocaroaches in it's pen at night. I kind of spread it's grains around so the hen can "forage". but now i dont know if that was such a good idea since it's attracting all those roaches. could that be a problem? they dont really go near the chicken's coop...or should i say-box it likes to sleep in.

-- D (Muhawi@aol.com), July 18, 2001.

I'd only leave the feed out at night as bait for the roaches for a while , and I'd spread diamataceous earth - this in the nature of an experiment, since I haven't had experience with it - let me know how it works please? After that I'd stop leaving it out. That is, I'd put it in a plate that I could bring in at night.

Also, your bird ought to be sleeping outside, but could be vulnerable to predators. Should have a mesh cage (Is that hardware cloth where you are? Anyway, thicker than plain mesh fencing) which goes over it, or into which it goes.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), July 18, 2001.

Don, your idea using diamataceous earth is a good one. Ill try it and let you know if it works. I hear it gets rid of ants too. Now i just have to find the stuff. This is only the second time I've heard of it. thanks

-- D (Muhawi@aol.com), July 18, 2001.