Vet Guide 2025: Essential Health Tips for Backyard Chickens 🐔 by Dr Duncan Houston 🩺

Hello! I’m Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc and founder of Ask A Vet. Backyard chickens are more popular than ever in 2025—but they need thoughtful care, veterinary oversight, and strong biosecurity to stay healthy. From coop setup to disease prevention, this comprehensive guide equips you to raise happy, thriving hens while safeguarding your household and neighborhood.

1. 🚜 Legal & Zoning Requirements

Before adding chickens, verify your local laws—many jurisdictions restrict flock size, prohibit roosters, mandate permits, or ban poultry altogether :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}. Proper compliance ensures you avoid legal issues and maintain community relations.

2. 🐥 Coop & Housing Essentials

• Indoor space: 3–4 sq ft per bird; outdoor run: 5–10 sq ft per bird :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}.
• Nesting boxes: one per 3–5 hens, about 14"x14"x12" in a dim corner :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}.
• Ventilation prevents ammonia buildup, yet avoid drafts on roosting birds :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}.
• Predator-proofing is essential—use hardware cloth, bury fences, secure latches, and overhead netting :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}.

3. 🥣 Nutrition & Hydration

• Feed life-stage–specific pelleted diets—starter for chicks, grower then layer feeds for adults :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}.
• Provide fresh, clean water daily—heated or nipple-style waterers reduce contamination :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}.
• Treats (fruit, vegetables, mealworms) are okay—but keep them under 10% of intake to prevent obesity :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}.
• Calcium supplements (e.g., oyster shell) help layer hens produce strong eggs :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}.

4. 💉 Veterinary & Health Maintenance

• Annual checkups with a poultry-savvy vet—including stool/parasite checks and blood work :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}.
• Vaccination for Marek’s disease—usually in ovo or as day-old chicks :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}.
• Monitor key signs: clear eyes/nostrils, healthy droppings, intact feathers, normal gait—contact vet if abnormal :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}.
• Regular parasite control for mites, lice, worms based on fecal monitoring :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}.

5. 🦠 Disease Awareness & Prevention

• Be vigilant for salmonellosis—practice thorough handwashing after handling birds or eggs :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}.
• Watch for respiratory diseases: bird flu, fowl pox, mycoplasma, aspergillosis—signs include sneezing, nasal discharge, lesions, rough breathing :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}.
• Implement strict biosecurity: quarantine new birds for 30 days, use footbaths, clean tools, restrict wild bird contact :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}.
• Proper manure management reduces odor and disease risk; compost or bury droppings and keep ventilation strong :contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}.

6. 🐓 Brood & Chick Rearing Care

• Use a draft-free brooder with heat lamp starting at ~95 °F, reducing gradually to outdoor temperatures at 4 weeks :contentReference[oaicite:20]{index=20}.
• Provide starter feed, chick-specific waterers, and bedding that’s clean and non-toxic :contentReference[oaicite:21]{index=21}.
• Social birds—ideal flocks are 5–6; at least three or more for healthy group dynamics :contentReference[oaicite:22]{index=22}.
• Common chick illnesses: diarrhea, “pasting up,” respiratory infections—seek vet attention promptly :contentReference[oaicite:23]{index=23}.

7. 🧰 Enrichment & Seasonal Adjustments

• Offer dust-bathing areas with sand or diatomaceous earth to support feather health and pest control :contentReference[oaicite:24]{index=24}.
• Provide perches and foraging space—natural behaviors reduce stress :contentReference[oaicite:25]{index=25}.
• Manage coop temperature: insulate and heat in winter, ventilate and shade in summer to maintain comfort (60–75 °F ideal) :contentReference[oaicite:26]{index=26}.

8. 🤝 Building a Healthy Flock Ecosystem

• Consider composting manure—adds garden nutrients and reduces waste :contentReference[oaicite:27]{index=27}.
• Use coop cameras or logs to track flock behavior, health, and environmental conditions.
• Engage with extension services or vets to optimize nutrition and disease protocols.

9. 🩺 Ask A Vet Support

If you notice unusual droppings, sneezing, lethargy, egg issues, parasites, or predator damage, reach out via the Ask A Vet app. Share photos of birds, housing, droppings, and coop setup. We’ll guide you with diagnostics, tailored treatments, biosecurity measures, and ongoing care plans. Visit AskAVet.com 📱

10. 🧡 Final Thoughts

Backyard chickens offer great rewards in companionship, sustainability, and egg production—but only with dedicated care, veterinary oversight, and strong biosecurity. In 2025, combining vet-level care and thoughtful management ensures healthy flocks, safe interactions, and rewarding experiences for both birds and families. Ask A Vet is here to support your flock’s health journey every step of the way. 🐔🌿

— Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc