Approach to backyard poultry. Part 1: seeing pet chickens in general first-opinion practice

Abstract

Background: Backyard poultry numbers in the UK have increased rapidly over the past few years. Despite this rise, there is still a perceived level of reservation among owners keeping chickens as pets in approaching their local first-opinion veterinary practice for help and advice, and from veterinarians in providing advice as they feel ill prepared to manage poultry cases within practice. Although undergraduate courses have improved over the years to include some teaching of poultry cases, there are still multiple factors that can lead to reduced confidence in dealing with backyard poultry, including cases frequently being sent to specialist veterinarians reducing exposure in first-opinion practice, difficult species-specific husbandry-related issues, and fears of not being well enough equipped to deal with such cases. With further clinical resources and signposting, handling a poultry case and managing preventive medicine and emergency situations can be transformative for poultry welfare, and is becoming an essential part of clinical practice as backyard poultry clients present themselves more frequently to first-opinion companion animal practice.

Aim of the article: This two-part series provides vets with a starting point to feel more confident with examining backyard poultry cases in practice, and be able to provide advice to clients to improve patient experience and long-term chicken welfare. These articles will primarily focus on pet chickens and aim to encourage companion animal clinicians to get involved with further poultry learning and poultry clients. This article covers the general approach to seeing pet chickens in first-opinion practice. Part two, to be published in a subsequent issue of In Practice, focuses on improving welfare and management of backyard poultry.