Avian Empire

28/11/2025

C is for Coccidiosis, and it’s hitting hard right now.

Over the past few weeks, the majority of our calls have been about enteritis, a serious and often preventable condition that commonly develops when coccidiosis isn’t treated early enough. We cannot stress this enough: every poultry owner should have a coccidiostat on hand. When symptoms appear, you often have a very small window before things deteriorate.

Signs of coccidiosis to watch for:
• Fluffed-up or hunched posture
• Loose or squirty droppings
• Lethargy or low energy
• Bubbles or mucus in droppings
• Squinting eyes
• Loss of appetite
• Blood in droppings (more common in young birds; less so in adults)

If you notice any of these symptoms, treat promptly. Early intervention can be the difference between a quick recovery and a much more serious case of enteritis.

Read more about coccidiosis on our site.
https://www.avianempire.co.nz/pages/coccidiosis?_pos=1&_psq=cocc&_ss=e&_v=1.0

Important update:
There is currently a nationwide shortage of Coxiprol. Fingers crossed, we’re hoping for new stock to be released from the manufacturer within the next week or so. In the meantime, please stay vigilant and monitor your flock closely.

Healthy birds start with early recognition and quick action. Stay prepared, stay observant, and reach out if you need support.

28/11/2025

Empowering Chicken Owners Through Education

We’ve decided to make our basic chicken medication dose rates publicly available, not to encourage home treatment, but to help empower chicken owners to better understand and double-check what’s been prescribed for their birds.

Over the past year, we’ve seen many cases through telemedicine where chickens were significantly under-dosed, leading to poor recovery or antibiotic resistance. Because chickens have a much faster metabolism than mammals, they often require higher, more frequent doses to reach effective therapeutic levels.

By sharing these reference ranges, we hope to encourage more informed discussions between owners and their vets, and to raise awareness around correct avian dosing.

⚠️ Please note: These are general reference rates only. They may vary depending on your vet’s advice, the bird’s condition, and the specific product used. Always follow your veterinarian’s directions when prescribing or administering medication.

Education saves lives, and healthier chickens mean happier flocks

25/11/2025

We Are So Overwhelmed, Thank You!

We are genuinely blown away by the number of people who have reached out and donated towards our huge, lifelong dreams. Every contribution, big or small, reminds us that we are not doing this alone. Knowing that people believe in what we’re building means more to us than we can ever put into words.

For anyone new to our journey, our charity is centred around two major projects that we are dedicating our lives to:

🕊 1. New Zealand’s first world-class, not-for-profit avian hospital
A specialist centre devoted entirely to birds, wild and pet, offering advanced veterinary care, training for vets and rehabilitators, research, surveillance, and public education. This will be a genuine centre of excellence for Aotearoa and a huge step forward for avian welfare in New Zealand.

🌿 2. The “1% Project” restoring 1% of NZ’s native forest
A long-term, generational mission to purchase land, replant it with native species, restore ecosystems, carry out pest control, and rebuild habitat for the birds who desperately need it. This represents thousands of hectares of forest we are committed to re-establishing over our lifetimes.

These two projects are bold, ambitious, and absolutely essential, and seeing so many people support them so wholeheartedly has left us humbled, emotional, and incredibly motivated.

If you’d like to help us continue building towards these dreams, you can donate through our website:
https://www.avianempire.co.nz/products/donate-to-avian-empire-charitable-trust

Or donate directly:
Avian Empire Charitable Trust
38-9027-0048064-00

Thank you for believing in us and in our vision. We truly cannot do this without you.

24/11/2025

Appointment Update for This Week

Just a quick heads-up for everyone, our appointment availability is a bit tighter than usual this week. As we head toward the end of the year, we have several commercial commitments we need to be present for, which means our telemedicine slots are more limited than normal.

This won’t be a regular thing, and our schedule will open up again shortlt.

If your bird needs urgent help or you’re struggling to find a spot, please email or call us. We’ll always do our best to make sure you get the support you need.

Thanks for your understanding 💛

Also how cute are these chickens 😉

23/11/2025

Let’s clear up one of the biggest myths we see in chicken health.

Here is the most common list of natural “wormers” we hear about...
- Apple cider vinegar
- Herbal or Beta drenches
- Diatomaceous earth
- Chilli flakes
- Garlic
- Pumpkin seeds

They might sound natural and healthy, but here’s the truth:
None of these are actual wormers.

While they can have other benefits, they do not kill or remove internal worms.

Apple cider vinegar can help balance gut bacteria and slightly acidify the crop, but it has no effect on internal parasites. Worms are well adapted to the naturally acidic environment of the digestive system and can easily survive those conditions.

Herbal drenches / Beta drench may support the liver or immune system, but this is not a product that should be relied on for worm eradication.

Diatomaceous earth only works dry on insects (and even that can be debated). Once it’s wet inside the gut, it becomes ineffective.

Chilli flakes can stimulate appetite, but worms are unaffected by spice.

Garlic may support immune health, but it won’t clear a worm burden.

Pumpkin seeds contain cucurbitacin, a compound that can mildly paralyse some parasites in lab conditions, but at the levels chickens can safely consume, it’s far too weak to have any real effect.

These are great supplements, not treatments.

Relying on them instead of a proper wormer can allow worm numbers to build up, leading to weight loss, anaemia, poor egg production, or even death in severe cases.

For genuine worm control, use a registered poultry wormer such as Flubendazole or Levamisole.

Or, if you prefer not to worm prophylactically, run a faecal egg count, which we always advocate for!

So, to summarise:
Apple cider vinegar - No
Herbal drenches - No
Diatomaceous earth - No
Chilli flakes - No
Garlic - No
Pumpkin seeds - No

Keep these natural options as healthy extras, but don’t rely on them to do a wormer’s job.

22/11/2025

Don’t wait until your birds are sick to worm them! 🪱🪱🪱

Worming isn’t just a treatment, it’s one of the key pillars of poultry health.
Internal worms can quietly build up in your flock, affecting growth, egg production, and immunity long before any symptoms appear.

Regular worming helps prevent serious issues before they start.
As a general rule, worm your chickens at least once each season, or run a f***l egg count to make sure you are in the clear.

On that note, please share some photos of your healthy happy chooks in the comments!

21/11/2025

We are well into red mite season now!
One of our favourite tools in the toolbox are the predator mites from Bioforce Limited. Who has tried these out before?

Red Fowl Mites driving your chooks crazy?
These tiny night-feeding pests hide in every crack and crevice of your coop, stressing your birds and reducing egg production.

✨ Poultry Defender from Bioforce is a natural, biological solution that targets red fowl mites without harsh chemicals. Safe for your flock, easy to use, and perfect for keeping your coop clean and your hens happy.

Protect your poultry the smart way → bioforce.co.nz

Photo credit to Brigid McCrea of Alabama A&M Extension school

21/11/2025

We’ve just added a new article to the Avian Encyclopedia on Ascites Syndrome, commonly known as water belly in chickens.

This condition causes fluid to build up inside a bird’s abdomen, making it hard for them to breathe or move comfortably. It’s often linked to factors like fast growth, cold weather, or poor ventilation.

If you’ve ever noticed a chicken with a swollen belly or struggling to breathe, this guide explains what’s happening, how to recognise the signs early, and what you can do to help prevent it in your flock.

https://f.mtr.cool/zoiwqryxrc

Keeping your birds healthy starts with understanding the issues that affect them, and we’re here to help you do just that.

21/11/2025

Our Supportive Care Manual has just been updated and is now available on our website! It’s been designed to help you buy precious time when your bird becomes unwell.

If you’re worried about your bird, this guide takes you through the essential first steps you should take right away. It’s clear, practical, and can make a meaningful difference while you arrange proper veterinary care (if needed).

https://www.avianempire.co.nz/pages/supportive-care

Important:
This manual is not a substitute for a veterinary appointment. It’s intended to help stabilise your bird, keep them comfortable, and prevent further decline until they can be properly assessed.

If your bird is very unwell or deteriorating quickly, please book an urgent appointment with us, or with your local vet if we’re unavailable.

We’re here to support you every step of the way, and this guide is the perfect place to begin.

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.