Avian Empire

20/11/2025

One of our lovely clients sent us this gorgeous update about one of her girls she has worked so hard to help recover from Marek’s virus. We think stories like this are so important to share so we can start changing the narrative around this disease. Sam and I want people to know that there is hope, and many birds can go on to live happy, meaningful, and joyful lives.

(Email)
Just an update on Helen. She has been doing amazing since we've last spoken. She still has troubles to hold her head straight at times but she seems to cope much better. She will never be 100% normal but as long as we think she enjoys life we will do what we can do keep her safe and happy. She joined our flock again but she has her own little hen house to sleep in because she still can't go up the ramp. Saying that, she does manage to get up there every now and then and sleeps with the others. In general she is very bossy and has new found confidence. We make sure she gets extra food, just to be sure she gets what she needs because it takes her longer to eat.

Because she has spent so much time with us over the last few months she has become very attached to us. When she sees us in the garden, she runs to the fence and starts screaming till we go over and pick her up. She loves a cuddle and we have spent a lot of time hanging out with her. I made a little pouch to carry her around while I do some gardening, I think she enjoys that.

Thank you for your support with her. I will attach a picture of Helen in her pouch doing some gardening with me.

We would love hearing these stories! It makes all the hard work worth it! Thanks again for the Share! 💛

18/11/2025

A client has kindly given us permission to share these deeply moving images of her hen who passed away, and of her loyal flock mate standing quietly over her.

Moments like this show us something many never get to see: the emotional depth of birds.

We don’t talk enough about how birds experience connection, grief, and loss. It’s easy to dismiss or shy away from “humanising” animals, but the reality is, they do form bonds, and they do mourn when those bonds are broken.

This is a gentle reminder that our birds feel more than they’re often given credit for. Their emotional experiences, grief, loneliness, attachment, deserve just as much recognition as their physical care.

Thank you to this wonderful family for allowing us to share this moment, and for the love they gave to their birds.

18/11/2025

Capillaria worms (threadworms) are one of the most common parasites we find in backyard poultry, and they’re easy to miss.

Their eggs are incredibly tough, survive for months in damp soil, and some species even use earthworms as an intermediate host. This means birds can become reinfected over and over again, especially if they free-range.

We’ve put together a simple breakdown of their life cycle, egg survival, the damage they cause, and how quickly they multiply.
Capillaria is one of the most common worms that shows up on our faecal egg count tests, and it’s often behind birds that are underweight, have poor feather condition, diarrhoea, slow crops, or just aren’t thriving.

If you’d like to check your flock, you can order a Faecal Egg Count directly through our website. It’s the most accurate way to identify which worm species are present in your birds, allowing us to recommend the most effective and targeted worming plan for your flock.

https://www.avianempire.co.nz/products/parasite-test-fec

If you need help working out the right worming plan or interpreting results, we’re always here to help.

16/11/2025

Here’s the first draft of our chicken medication calculator, covering several of the most commonly used oral liquid meds.

Note: This version is for direct oral dosing only.
A water-volume calculator is coming soon.

This tool is a general guide and should always be used alongside proper veterinary advice. If you’re unsure or your bird is unwell, reach out, we’re here to support you.

https://www.avianempire.co.nz/pages/medication-calculators

Give it a try and let me know your thoughts! Your feedback will help refine the next updates.

16/11/2025

Tapeworms are more common in backyard and free-range flocks than many people realise, and not all of them can be seen with the naked eye. In fact, there are several different species of tapeworm in New Zealand poultry, some tiny enough to go unnoticed but still capable of harming your birds.

Our latest blog explains how tapeworms spread, which species are found in New Zealand, and the most effective ways to reduce reinfection on your property. It also covers safe, approved treatment options under New Zealand veterinary regulations.

If your birds free-range or you’ve ever spotted white segments in droppings, this guide is well worth a read. 🪱🪱🪱

Read the full article here: https://f.mtr.cool/zsfhraqgdy

15/11/2025

Do you have a feeding space issue?

Here’s something a lot of people don’t realise about chicken behaviour: chickens don’t share. In a flock, every bird knows exactly who owns what resources. and that includes feeders.

If there isn’t enough space for everyone to eat at once, the lower-ranking birds won’t push in. Instead, they’ll hover around the edges, waiting to pick up whatever’s dropped on the ground. This often means they miss out on vital nutrition, which over time leads to feather pecking, egg eating, higher worm and coccidia loads, and weakened immune systems and poor health.

So how much space do they need?
📏10 -15 cm of linear feeding space per bird, or
📏At least 7 cm of space per bird on a circular feeder.

That’s the amount needed for everyone to eat and drink comfortably without conflict.

Sam has a great analogy:
“Just because there are cars parked on the street doesn’t mean you can hop into any of them and drive off, they’re not your cars.”

Feeders work the same way. Just because the feed is there doesn’t mean every chicken can access it. Make sure your birds each have their own “parking space” at the feeder so nobody goes hungry.

14/11/2025

The Red Mite Toolbox

Red mites are one of the biggest headaches for backyard chicken keepers, and there’s no single silver bullet. The key is using a mix of tools: deep cleaning, simple coop design, reducing clutter, keeping wild birds away, and knowing which treatments to use (and when).

Think of it like a toolbox: the more tools you know, the better prepared you’ll be when mites show up.

What things have worked best for you and your chooks?

https://f.mtr.cool/ebwrrhlygj

14/11/2025

You asked, so here it is!
I’ve put together a first draft of our basic chicken medications calculator. This version covers several of the most common oral liquid medications we use in practice.

Important: This calculator is for direct oral dosing only.
I’ll be creating additional calculators soon for medication-by-water-volume dosing as well.

Please note: This tool is intended as a general guide only and should always be used alongside proper veterinary advice. Every bird and every situation is different.
If you’re unsure, or if your bird is unwell, you can always reach out to us for help, we’re here to support you.

Have a play with it and let me know what you think, your feedback will help shape the next versions!

https://www.avianempire.co.nz/pages/medication-calculators

13/11/2025

Need a safe way to give your chook fluids without the risk of aspiration? This simple Supportive Care Jelly is perfect for sick, weak, or heat-stressed birds who aren’t drinking on their own, and it’s so easy to make at home!
🍉 Watermelon not in season? 🥒 Cucumber too expensive?
No worries, this jelly works year-round using ingredients you already have.
Recipe:
🧊1 teaspoon of plain gelatine per 100 ml of water
🧊Dissolve the gelatine fully in boiling water
🧊Add cool water, then stir in your choice of vitamins or electrolytes
🧊Pour into a flat container and let it set (only takes a few hours!)
🧊Cut into bite-sized cubes and assist feed

12/11/2025

Working on a basic spreadsheet calculator for some common chicken medications to make it easier for those of us who are mathematically challenged haha. What medications would you like to see and who wants a copy‽ Obviously Aviverm is next...

11/11/2025

New Blog: Understanding Poultry Vaccines: Let’s Demystify It Together! 💉

Vaccines can be one of the most confusing parts of poultry health (next to worming haha!), especially for backyard bird keepers here in New Zealand. Access has always been tricky, with most vaccines packaged for large commercial farms and little practical guidance available for small flocks.

That’s exactly why we’ve created our Poultry Vaccine Guide, the first step in helping make sense of what’s out there, what each vaccine protects against, and how they fit into bird health in Aotearoa.

At Avian Empire, we believe every bird owner deserves access to reliable information and the tools to keep their flocks healthy, and we’ll keep working toward better vaccine access for backyarders in the future.

Got questions? Drop them in the comments, we’ll do our best to answer them!

https://www.avianempire.co.nz/pages/vaccine-guide-for-poultry

10/11/2025

New Blog Post: Telemedicine has enormous potential in avian care, especially here in New Zealand, where access to skilled bird vets is limited, and many owners face real challenges with transport, stress, and the risk of disease spread when visiting clinics that see other sick birds.

Despite its value, avian telemedicine still lacks formal recognition and support in New Zealand. For many bird owners, remote consultations are the only way to access expert advice and tailored treatment plans when in-person options simply aren’t available.

In our latest blog, Sam explores how telemedicine stacks up against traditional vet visits, when it’s most effective, and why it deserves a stronger place in New Zealand’s veterinary landscape.

Avian Empire is New Zealand’s leading avian health service, offering expert bird vet consultations, commercial poultry vet services, premium supplements, and trusted care for pet and poultry birds. Shop online or book a consult to support your bird’s health with science-backed, vet-developed sol...