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A Chicken eating

Steam Team:聽聽Chicken Health and Hygiene

May 2025 | Written by:聽Twila Parish-Short, MEd., Science Educator

Regular Check-ups

  • Observe your chickens for signs of illness, such as lethargy, unusual droppings, decreased appetite, or feather loss.
  • Check for mites, lice, and other parasites. Dust baths (a shallow area with sand and diatomaceous earth) help chickens keep clean and naturally prevent parasites.聽
A chicken in the grass

Vaccinations and Deworming

  • Vaccination can prevent some diseases, especially if you鈥檙e buying chicks from hatcheries.

  • Worming is generally only necessary if there are signs of parasites. Some backyard chicken owners use natural preventatives like apple cider vinegar in water or pumpkin seeds, which are thought to help with parasite control.


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