Arizona Chickens

[Arizonachicken]

That chick is so cute!

 

[Arizonachicken]

Ok, guys, I need help. I have a clean faced Wheaten Ameraucana who is about 1 1/2 years old. She lays pretty blue eggs, but she needs a little extra care. Her nails are REALLY long and her beak is curved too much. This just recently started, and can probably be corrected easily, but I can't have a "high maintenance" chicken, and having to clip nails and file beaks is too high maintenance for me. I don't want to add anything else to my plate right now. I will give her away to a good home who can provide these things for her. BTW, she is the only hen that is like this. I also have two of her hatch mates (not clean faced, tho) and they are fine. Any takers? I can post pictures of her if anyone is interested.

 

[Demosthine]

Beak deformities are usually a nutritional deficiency and tend to self correct after being given the correct supplements. I think it was the story about the Gnarly Bunch where I heard that, on the Natural Chicken Keeping blog. Several articles since have backed up her claim, so you might look in to that first.

http://m.avianweb.com/?url=http://www.avianweb.com/beakdeformities.html&width=720

Biotin, methiodine, sulfa and calcium are the usual culprits. Some have also said that after filing the beak down, sometimes significantly, it will automatically correct as the new beak grows in.

Just two thoughts on helping. Neither sound time intense or difficult, so they be worth trying. And I don't know if you free range, but providing cement or solid dirt ground will allow them to trim their own nails. I've seen mine do it on my porch, so maybe just providing a large brick in their run will work. I know a lot of parakeet or cage kept domestic birds put special roosts in that has a sandpaper type finish that accomplishes the same task. I do believe there are special mineral blocks for this also.

 

[Arizonachicken]

Beak deformities are usually a nutritional deficiency and tend to self correct after being given the correct supplements. I think it was the story about the Gnarly Bunch where I heard that, on the Natural Chicken Keeping blog. Several articles since have backed up her claim, so you might look in to that first.

http://m.avianweb.com/?url=http://www.avianweb.com/beakdeformities.html&width=720

Biotin, methiodine, sulfa and calcium are the usual culprits. Some have also said that after filing the beak down, sometimes significantly, it will automatically correct as the new beak grows in.

Just two thoughts on helping. Neither sound time intense or difficult, so they be worth trying. And I don't know if you free range, but providing cement or solid dirt ground will allow them to trim their own nails. I've seen mine do it on my porch, so maybe just providing a large brick in their run will work. I know a lot of parakeet or cage kept domestic birds put special roosts in that has a sandpaper type finish that accomplishes the same task. I do believe there are special mineral blocks for this also.

Thanks for the info, I knew someone would chime in with the deficiency info. My birds do free range, and have a very well rounded diet and like I said, she's the only one with long nails and the beak thing. We have grass, dirt, rocks and a whole lotta pavers, so there's no issue there. My theory is it is a genetic thing...goes along with the clean faced Ameraucana gene. Her two sisters are fine. (On a side note, they are ALWAYS broody, she has never been broody) Anywho, she's not crossed beaked, just the top beak has grown too long. It's just been within the past few months, and she's going on 2 years. City Farm is going to take her, she can give her the TLC I can't. Remember, I just had our 6th child (oldest just turned 8), I home school, run our business, blah, blah, blah. I'm busy.

 

[Demosthine]

Thanks for the info, I knew someone would chime in with the deficiency info. My birds do free range, and have a very well rounded diet and like I said, she's the only one with long nails and the beak thing. We have grass, dirt, rocks and a whole lotta pavers, so there's no issue there. My theory is it is a genetic thing...goes along with the clean faced Ameraucana gene. Her two sisters are fine. (On a side note, they are ALWAYS broody, she has never been broody) Anywho, she's not crossed beaked, just the top beak has grown too long. It's just been within the past few months, and she's going on 2 years. City Farm is going to take her, she can give her the TLC I can't. Remember, I just had our 6th child (oldest just turned 8), I home school, run our business, blah, blah, blah. I'm busy.

That's strange that it would start showing up after such a long period. I know how people get with their long-term friends, so I thought I'd try to help a bit. Glad someone can take her, and especially someone that loves her flock as much as she does. I'm sure your girl will get lots of tender loving care.

We have three girls right now and my wife wants a fourth. I'm still really not sure if I can handle that. Our eight-turning-thirteen year old puts enough grey hairs on this youngin's head. And at the age of six and eight, they are already fighting over the bathroom. I don't envy you with six! My Mom has that many kids and it's a nice reminder of how stressful more kids can be.

 

[Arizonachicken]

I appreciate all of your knowledge, DEMOS! I'm a little different with my flock. My chickens are not pets. That's not to say that I don't care for them any less, I just TRY to avoid emotional attachment to them. If no one was able to take her, I would do the necessary treatment myself. I worm, dust, even will do bumble foot surgery for my girls. I need to downsize my flock anyway, so this is good. I know City will take wonderful care of her!

About the kids, yes, more equals more stress, but also a more fulfilling life, IMO. Peoole think we're crazy having 6 children so close together. That's their opinion, and that's ok. I absoultely LOVE it and I wouldn't change a thing at this point. It's actually a bit easier right now, the older siblings help out quite a bit. They love holding the baby and they are learning so much about responsibility! We have a very small house and they all share a bathroom. (I TRY to keep them out of mine! )No fighting, but then again my oldest 3 are boys. It probably would be different with girls! Eeesh! Stop by sometime if you're ever on the East Side and we'll talk everything chicken and kids!

 

[Demosthine]

I appreciate all of your knowledge, DEMOS! I'm a little different with my flock. My chickens are not pets. That's not to say that I don't care for them any less, I just TRY to avoid emotional attachment to them. If no one was able to take her, I would do the necessary treatment myself. I worm, dust, even will do bumble foot surgery for my girls. I need to downsize my flock anyway, so this is good. I know City will take wonderful care of her!

About the kids, yes, more equals more stress, but also a more fulfilling life, IMO. Peoole think we're crazy having 6 children so close together. That's their opinion, and that's ok. I absoultely LOVE it and I wouldn't change a thing at this point. It's actually a bit easier right now, the older siblings help out quite a bit. They love holding the baby and they are learning so much about responsibility! We have a very small house and they all share a bathroom. (I TRY to keep them out of mine!

)No fighting, but then again my oldest 3 are boys. It probably would be different with girls! Eeesh! Stop by sometime if you're ever on the East Side and we'll talk everything chicken and kids!

I'm right there with you on them not being pets. And even though my wife initially agreed, she's changed her tune some. Her Silkies are not eligible for Camp Freezer, ever. And even though the three turkeys are named Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, she'd keep at least one of them (probably Easter) permanently if she could. They are the broad breasted variety, so that's not possible. I hope to get one or two heritage Bronze later this fall or early spring. I'd love to get a mating pair so that we can have fertilized eggs from them, too.

I'd love to be able to come chat and socialize sometime. My wife and I are needed to build more friends and get out more. We have one set of friends that are over at least once or twice a month, but our conflicting schedules make it so hard. One of our neighbors is great, but we rarely have the opportunity to get together. But a healthy marital relationship needs more outside interaction than we have at the moment. I'll PM you and we can work something out. You're more than welcome out to our place, too. If you look through my pics, you can see the playground we have in the backyard, plus a tetherball pole and a pool, so we are very kid-friendly. City Farm and her boys had a blast last time they came over. Even she got out there playing a game of tetherball. Oh, the memories it brings back from my childhood when we had real playground equipment at school...

 

[cbnovick]

5 LF Buff Rocks at 9 1/2 weeks....thus far pleased with color, type and size...nice temperaments too!
Lots of feathers in the coop/run....juvenile molt in process

 

[FeatherPugs]

5 LF Buff Rocks at 9 1/2 weeks....thus far pleased with color, type and size...nice temperaments too!
Lots of feathers in the coop/run....juvenile molt in process

These are beautiful! How do they do in the heat? AND an ignorant question - what are the green bands for?

 

[MaddBaggins]

I won't be able to make the party, sorry. Small party at my place tomorrow. Grilling some ribs and stuff.