If you do not shop dollar store, you may be in for a surprise to find that they have a number of items suitable for your poultry first aid kit and general chicken care, and may be suitable for other livestock and farm needs.
This can be a helpful resource to cut some of your farm and coop costs. My husband says I am frugal to a fault, but hey, I was raised to make do with what we had, and that has stayed with me throughout my adult years, and served me well when the budget was too tight to rub two nickels together.
Here at Just Fowling Around, we know from experience, just how tight that farming budget can get, and we are well aware of the many folks that work an outside job to support what they love and to work toward self reliance, so we are definitely looking out for your best interests when it comes to finding frugal ways to help maintain all of your hard efforts and to stretch those hard earned dollars.
We use a lot of zip ties, bungi cords, twine and containers. all of which are available at dollar stores for............well, a dollar, compared to $3 dollars and up at most other stores.
Generic items according to the medical professionals are equal to brand name products, so you can stock up on your poultry first aid kit at the dollar store. They may not have everything you may need, but they do have a variety of things to help cut costs on those special need items.
Vet wrap, Electrolytes, wound ointment, Epsom salts, hydrogen peroxide, puppy pads, RV shelf liner to name a few are all only $1.00 each. Refer to our link for items you should have in your poultry first aid kit, then head out to the dollar store with your list. justfowlingaround.weebly.com/chicken-blog/category/poultry-first-aid-kit
Electrolytes are useful during stressful times, such as predator attacks, stormy weather, heat stroke and when there is an injury or illness in the flock. The price of electrolytes can be expensive depending on where you typically purchase them. We can save you even more money with our recipe for Electrolytes that costs pennies to make using nothing more than what you have on your pantry shelf. Oh and look for those items at your dollar store as well........Baking Soda and salt are both available at the dollar store. Refer to the link: justfowlingaround.weebly.com/chicken-blog/1
Puppy or Pet Pads can get expensive, but they are very handy to use in the bottom of brooders or pet carriers if you need to transport chicks or chickens or have an injured or sick bird to tend to and need to keep them isolated. The pads make clean-up so much easier and help keep ammonia and bacteria to a minimum.
RV shelf liner is an essential item in brooders, incubators and in carriers if you are raising chicks, to help prevent spraddle legs that a slick surface may cause.
Epsom salts should be in every household and every livestock first aid kit for it's healing benefits. Epsom salts in warm water will help with a plethora of injuries, and a life saver for egg bound hens, and prolapsed vent or infections such as bumble foot.
Wound ointments (generic first aid cream, antiseptic salve or neosporin) are useful not just for healing wounds, but also for helping prevent frostbite. The salves provide a protective coating to prevent entry of bacteria, and help heal if there happens to be frostbite on the combs, wattles or feet.
Vaseline or Petroleum Jelly is also useful for helping prevent frostbite. The salve provides a protective coating to prevent entry of bacteria, and help heal if there happens to be frostbite on the combs, wattles or feet.
Vicks (or the generic chest and throat rub). We use this for treating scale mite. It's antiseptic and the salve smothers the mites and prevents the mite eggs from hatching.
Hydrogen peroxide is great for cleaning minor wounds, scrapes, or bug bites, so they can be treated. It can also be used as a disinfectant for cleaning surfaces. Caution: Hydrogen peroxide should not be used for treating deep wounds, burns or animal bites, nor used around the eyes. It should also not be used for long term infections, as it can inhibit healing. As a side note, Hydrogen peroxide can be used on your cutting boards to disinfect to prevent bacteria and salmonella. You can use hydrogen peroxide as a fruit or vegetable wash or soak to kill bacteria and neutralize chemicals. There are several credible references about the use of hydrogen peroxide on fruits or vegetables. Research published by the Journal of Food and Science in 2003 showed effective results of using hydrogen peroxide to decontaminate apples and melons that were infected with strains of E.coli.
Vet Wrap is very useful when treating wounds and injuries. After treatment, simply bind the area with the vet wrap to keep the dressing in place and prevent the dressing from being torn off before healing begins. Vet wrap can also be used to correct splayed legs in chicks.
Containers of all types and shapes are available at dollar stores, storage containers, buckets, dishpans are always needed around the farm, and need replacing often, so why not purchase those at the dollar store since the replacements costs do add up when you're paying $5. and more per container elsewhere?
If you raise chicks in the Spring or fall or year round, you know the importance of placing pebbles or marbles in the water containers to prevent drowning, the dollar store has what you need. They have both the marbles and pebbles that typically range from $3 to $5. elsewhere and you pay only $1.00.
Do you need pet dishes? The dollar store has them for small to large pets, so you can have as many sizes as needed each for only $1.00 compared to $10 and up elsewhere.
Clothespins, bag clips, Bungi Cords, Twine, and Zip ties are impossible to live without on the farm, so stock up on those at the dollar store, especially if you use a lot of those items like we do.
You can also find gauze, cotton balls, Q tips, survival blankets, etc. that are all handy for stocking your poultry first aid kit.
You won't find chicken feed, chicken wire or chicken water and feed containers at the dollar store, but you will find many essential chicken raising products to save you many dollars over major brand or store brand products and just who doesn't want to save some hard earned money?
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