Arizona Chickens

[GoldBarRanch]

Scorpion season.....ugh!

DH & I went outside to candle some eggs last night in the Serama coop, and while we were out we heard one of our EE's sneezing/coughing very loudly. We figure she got stung probably just a few minutes before we went outside.....lucky we did or I know she wouldn't have made it.

When we went over to check she was starting to gape for breath and was having trouble standing. We brought her in and she got progressively worse, getting more and more paralyzed and more mucus-y breathing. We gave her children's benadryl and I made her all sorts of towel contraptions to try and prop her up so she could keep breathing more freely until the Benadryl kicked in. She kept seizing/convulsing so I eventually just held her on my chest for a few hours reclined on the couch and tried to doze. Fast forward to after midnight, and she was breathing better but still spazming

poor baby. I went to bed, checked her at 2 am and got up at 6. She made it through the night, but her legs are completely stiff out behind her with clenched feet. I'm not sure what else to do to help her. Her breathing seems ok, but I am hoping the paralysis is temporary, or just due to being in a weird position for those couple of hours overnight....

what to do if she doesn't get better over the day? chicken massage? chicken hot tub (in the sink) ?

We got revenge on some scorpions last night - killed several big bark scorpions that were over by the coop and probably another 7-8 in the front/back yards.....time to spray!!!

We use this diatomaceous earth food grade in and around our coops and runs, we put it in all our animals feed ect. Wont hurt anybody but BUGS including scorpions and snakes, ants. check it out on the internet . Ps I hope your baby will be ok

 

[GoldBarRanch]

http://www.shagbarkbantams.com/oxine.htm Here it is.

can you use this in a household humidifier?

 

[Mikey D]

Do you all lock your hens in the coop till the morning? I'm asking because I let mine free range in the backyard and their coop entry doesn't have a door. I could easily make one, though.

Except for last night, I always lock them in until morning.

They fuss and argue until I let them out but I think it's safer than giving nocturnal predators a free boxed lunch.

 

[Mikey D]

Quote: I got this one at Walmart for $30 - it worked great and put out a BUNCH of mist!

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Safety-1s...ree-Humidifier-Blue/15833569?findingMethod=rr

************edit*************

It is in the baby section - not the pharmacy section.

 

[Gospel Birds]

I know a woman here in the Tucson area who has Black Spanish chickens. But her chickens have mites and that scares me. I have no chickens right now. She's been raising chickens for years and grew up with them so she must have encountered the mites before. Would this scare anyone else? I do not want birds infested with mites. What do you think? Tomas 5/26/'12

 

[Jferlisi]

I know a woman here in the Tucson area who has Black Spanish chickens. But her chickens have mites and that scares me. I have no chickens right now. She's been raising chickens for years and grew up with them so she must have encountered the mites before. Would this scare anyone else? I do not want birds infested with mites. What do you think? Tomas 5/26/'12

Welcome and i have had lice and mites. I used DE and some stuff i put in there water for it and it got ride of both.

 

[Mama Hen Chris]

23 days old


Hanging out with the some of the Aunties


"This is not my squeaky toy, this is not my squeaky toy... No Touch!....Good Girl."


Phoebe.... Ah, there's Miley. Let's see if I can scare her.


She doesn't suspect a thing.


Just a couple more steps.



Busted!

 

[Billiam]

23 days old


Hanging out with the some of the Aunties


"This is not my squeaky toy, this is not my squeaky toy... No Touch!....Good Girl."


Phoebe.... Ah, there's Miley. Let's see if I can scare her.


She doesn't suspect a thing.


Just a couple more steps.



Busted!

Great story line! Love the squeaky toy bit and I guess the ambush just wasn't meant to be. Next time, yes....next time!

 

[Mikey D]

I know a woman here in the Tucson area who has Black Spanish chickens. But her chickens have mites and that scares me. I have no chickens right now. She's been raising chickens for years and grew up with them so she must have encountered the mites before. Would this scare anyone else? I do not want birds infested with mites. What do you think? Tomas 5/26/'12

I don't know Thomas, I'd start with the cleanest birds possible.

 

[Mikey D]

Wahoo!

My Production Red (AKA Meow) who has been broody for over a month, has gone to sleep on the roost.

Hopefully she'll not be freeloading anymore!

Back to work bird!

Now I just have to convince the black australorp...