If you have a cat or a dog, it’s easy to find a vet, even in a pinch. But it’s harder to find a vet who’ll treat a chicken. You’ll want to find a vet who is a member of the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV), and there are not as many avian vets as there are cat and dog vets. Avian vets understand the anatomy and physiology of birds, which are different from those of mammals.
If you’re able to take your chicken to a vet, it’s important to establish a relationship with an avian vet before your bird needs their services. Because there are fewer avian vets, they are often overbooked: it may be easier to get an appointment as an existing or long-term patient.
Home to Roost LLC, while not a veterinary service, offers troubleshooting and advice in emergencies, and vet referrals for chickens and other birds. We endorse the following avian vet practices in the Chicagoland area.
AURORA
Indian Prairie Animal Hospital
Address: 1195 S Frontenac Street, Aurora, IL 60504
Phone Number: (630) 820-6999
Website: Indian Prairie Animal Hospital
Certified Avian Vet: None; AAV members
Indian Prairie Animal Hospital has been providing veterinary care for birds, including chickens, since 1984. While they do not have a board-certified avian veterinarian on staff, their veterinarians are members of the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV) and have extensive experience treating a wide range of avian species.
The practice offers general wellness care, diagnostics, and treatment for common avian health concerns. They do not provide in-house emergency services but refer after-hours and urgent cases to Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG) or Midwest Animal Hospital.
CHICAGO
Animal House of Chicago
Address: 2752 W Lawrence Ave Suite 3, Chicago, IL 60625
Phone Number: (773) 878-8002
Website: Animal House of Chicago
Certified Avian Vet: Dr. Byron de la Navarre
Dr. Byron de la Navarre is the chief of staff at Animal House of Chicago. The practice, established in 2003, treats a variety of pets including birds. Dr. de la Navarre is an active member of the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV) and serves as the Illinois State Liaison.
The practice offers comprehensive veterinary care including preventative care, nutritional advice, and emergency services for birds and other exotic pets. In-house diagnostic capabilities include full blood and chemistry work, cytology, radiology, endoscopy, and ultrasound.
Veterinary Emergency Group, Lincoln Park
Address: 755 W. North Avenue, Chicago IL 60610
Phone Number: (312) 757-5444
Website: Veterinary Emergency Group, Lincoln Park
VEG provides emergency care only. While they do not have an avian vet on staff, they can stabilize a chicken and treat symptoms until the bird can be seen by an avian vet at another practice. There are additional locations in Oak Brook, Naperville, the South Loop, and Buffalo Grove.
GLENWOOD
Glenwood Village Pet Hospital
Address: 555 Glenwood-Lansing Rd, Glenwood, IL 60425
Phone Number: (708) 758-2400
Website: Glenwood Village Pet Hospital
Certified Avian Vets: Dr. Katy Parr, Dr. Amanda Hernandez
Glenwood Village Pet Hospital sees chickens, and they offers surgeries, necropsies, X-rays, and ultrasounds (usually available with a one-week notice). The practice performs some lab work in house and may send out other fecals, cultures, and bloodwork. They can hospitalize critically ill patients, though there is no overnight staff for monitoring. Hospitalized patients still benefit from treatments like injections, fluids, and gavage feeding, which are typically impractical at home.
LISLE
Ness Exotic Wellness Center
Address: 1007 Maple Ave, Lisle, IL 60532
Phone Number: (630) 737-1281
Website: Ness Exotic Wellness Center
Certified Avian Vets: Dr. Robert Ness, Dr. Richard Nye
Ness Exotic Wellness Center has a team of certified avian veterinarians, including Dr. Robert Ness and Dr. Richard Nye. They offer comprehensive care for birds, including diagnostics, emergency services, and holistic and specialized treatments.
The clinic is well equipped with an in-house lab and advanced medical technology to ensure prompt and effective care for avian patients. Ness Exotics provides emergency services during office hours and various specialized treatments for avian species.
LOMBARD
Lombard Veterinary Hospital
Address: 244 E St Charles Rd, Lombard, IL 60148
Phone Number: (630) 627-7090
Website: Lombard Veterinary Hospital
Dr. Zachary Kline at Lombard Veterinary Hospital, while not an AAV certified vet, provides quality veterinary services for birds. The hospital offers a range of services including emergency care, urgent care, surgeries, and in-house lab diagnostics. Problems they commonly see in birds like chickens, quail, and turkeys include upper respiratory infection, bumblefoot, gastrointestinal bacterial or fungal overgrowth, egg binding, feather mites, and worms/protozoans in the GI tract.
NILES
Niles Animal Hospital and Bird Medical Center
Address: 7278 N. Milwaukee Ave., Niles, IL 60714
Phone: (847) 647-9325
Website: Niles Animal Hospital and Bird Medical Center
Certified avian vets: Dr. Jamie Abete
Dr. Abete, the practice owner, is interested in all avian species, as well as exotics and cats and dogs. She was involved in wildlife rehibilitation at Ross University through the school’s chapter of AAV (Association of Avian Veterinarians). The practice provides a wide variety of services, including in-house laboratory services, surgical care, screening tests, and specialist referrals.
NORTH AURORA
Animal House Veterinary Hospital
Address: 356 N Randall Rd, North Aurora, IL 60542
Phone Number: (630) 701-1372
Website: Animal House Veterinary Hospital
Certified Avian Vet: Dr. Mary Grabowski
Dr. Mary Grabowski at Animal House Veterinary Hospital in St. Charles provides veterinary care for birds, including chickens. The hospital offers various services such as surgeries, diagnostic imaging, and emergency care.
SKOKIE
Blue Pearl
Address: 3735 Dempster St., Skokie, IL 60076
Phone Number: (847) 673-9110
Website: Blue Pearl
This emergency group works in conjunction with Chicago Exotics and can stabilize a bird until it can be transferred to an avian veterinary practice. There is an additional location in Northfield.
Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital
Address: 3757 W. Dempster St., Skokie, IL 60076
Phone Number: (847) 329-8709
Website: Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital
Certified Avian Vets: Dr. Susan Horton, Dr. Ellen Boyd
The whole Chicago Exotics team treats chickens and poultry, and Dr. Ellen Boyd did her graduate work on chickens and poultry. The practice offers many in-house labs and other services. As an exotics-exclusive practice, they understand the need for immediate lab results. Their in-house diagnostic capability includes full blood and chemistry work, cytology, radiology, endoscopy, ultrasound, and surgery. The warm exotic ICU features avian incubators, avian nebulizer units, and inline oxygen for all cages. Chicago Exotics is especially bird friendly! They can do home visits for large flocks, surgery, CT, acupuncture, chiropractic care, cold laser treatments, and many others. The practice also offers 24-hour critical care services in association with their emergency partners, including Blue Pearl Skokie.
INDIANAPOLIS
Avian and Exotic Animal Clinic of Indianapolis
Address: 9330 Waldemar Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46268
Phone Number: (317) 879-8633
Website: Avian Exotic Animal Clinic of Indianapolis
Certified Avian Vet: Dr. Angela Lennox
Dr. Angela Lennox at Avian Exotic Animal Clinic of Indianapolis specializes in the care of exotic animals, including birds. The clinic provides a wide range of services, including diagnostics, surgeries, and emergency care and employs the state’s only board-certified avian and exotic mammal specialists.
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