Do chickens have to go to the vet?

Chickens, like dogs and cats, may become sick or injured and require veterinary care. Illness in chickens can be caused by fungus and dust spores left as a result of old food or dusty bedding—an important reason to keep chicken coops clean! Signs that your chicken may be ill include: feather discoloration, eye discharge, hunched posture, drooping tail, ruffled feathers, and weak legs. This is not to be confused with molting, when chickens replace their feathers for winter.

Here are a couple of veterinarians in the St. Louis area that see chickens:

• David J. Kersting, D.V.M., 132 Four Seasons Shopping Center (Woods Mill and Olive) Chesterfield, MO 63017, (314) 469-6661
• Tri-City Animal and Bird Clinic, 15646 Manchester Road, Ellisville, MO 63011, (636) 227-4041