How to keep your chickens happy this easter

Hop into Easter with happy, healthy chickens!

As we celebrate this festive time, let's not forget about our feathered friends and their delicate skin. Don't worry though, there are natural remedies that can help keep your cluckers looking and feeling their best during the colder months.

Mites & Lice? Not on our watch!

Mites and lice are the most common skin issues in chickens. These tiny parasites can cause intense itching, irritation, and feather loss. You may also notice small red or black dots on the skin or feathers. To prevent and treat mites and lice, it's important to keep your chicken coop clean and dry. Regularly dust your chickens with a natural dusting powder, and consider using diatomaceous earth as a natural and effective treatment. To prevent and treat mites and lice, you can also use pure Tasmanian Kunzea hydrosol or mix it with water and spray it on your chickens and their coop. The natural insecticidal properties of Kunzea oil can help kill these pests, while the hydrosol's gentle formula is safe for delicate chicken skin.

Scaly leg mites? No Problem!

Scaly leg mites are another common skin issue in chickens. These mites burrow under the scales on your chicken's legs and feet, causing them to become thick and scaly. Infected chickens may have difficulty walking, and their legs may become infected or even break. To prevent and treat scaly leg mites, regularly inspect your chicken's legs and feet and keep the coop clean. You can treat scaly leg mites with a variety of natural remedies. To help soothe and heal the skin, you can apply CritterKream to the affected areas. The combination of Tasmanian Kunzea coconut oil, beeswax, and honey can help moisturize the skin and protect it from further irritation.

Fungal infections? Not in our coop!

Fungal infections are also a common skin issue in chickens, particularly in hot and humid climates. These infections can cause red, scaly, and crusty patches on the skin, as well as feather loss. To prevent and treat fungal infections, keep your chicken coop clean and dry and provide good ventilation. You can also treat fungal infections with natural remedies such as apple cider vinegar and garlic. Kunzea oil is known to have antifungal properties that can help treat fungal infections in chickens. Try spraying some Kunzea hydrosol on the affected areas. A Kunzea barrier cream may also be helpful in soothing irritated skin and preventing further fungal infections.

Feather pecking? Nobody has got time for that!

Feather pecking is a behavior rather than a skin issue, but it can lead to serious skin problems. Chickens may peck at each other's feathers out of boredom, stress, or a lack of space in the coop. This can lead to bare patches on the skin, which can become infected. To prevent feather pecking, provide plenty of space in the coop and make sure your chickens have plenty of enrichment activities to keep them occupied. Things like: scattering treats, hanging up food for them to peck on, providing perches and a dust bath are easy to implement. Or you can even hang up a mirror, so the chickens can get entertained by their own reflections.

Bumblefoot? Sounds like a buzzkill!

Bumblefoot is a painful infection that affects the bottom of a chicken's foot. It can cause swelling, redness, and a raised scab or bump on the foot. Bumblefoot is often caused by an injury or a bacterial infection. To prevent and treat bumblefoot, keep the coop clean and dry, and inspect your chicken's feet regularly. You can treat bumblefoot with natural remedies such as turmeric and honey and/or apply our Kunzea barrier cream to help soothe the skin and protect it from further damage while it heals. Its natural antibacterial properties may also help prevent infections in bumblefoot sores.