BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[hellbender]

I just checked the WV hunting regs...NO bear parts may be sold in this state. That's because so many jackasses were greedy and killed bears out of season for a long time that the real bear hunters put up such a stink about it, the legislation had to do something. The out-of-season killing simply got out of hand. Also a lot of out-of-staters were involved.

I used to have a LEGAL gall bladder business, sort of a side line, that paid for me a new truck every year but the poachers fixed that for me and several others who followed the laws.

 

[LindaB220]

Hey Ron, I've been out of pocket for a day or two. Hope everyone is well. Daughter doing okay? I went to the PO today to pick up some EO Marraduna Basque eggs. Woohoo!! I just found out that there is a close seller in Tx. 6 hrs from me. I sent her the foam insert and the eggs were in great shape. I'll be setting them in a few minutes. I'm gearing up to hatch a lot of chickens this spring. I'll have the White Plymouth Rocks, a combo of Blosl and XW poultry. They seem to be better mixed. The Blosl has the silver gene that I can use for Golden Comets. A New Hampshire over the silver pullets and I want to raise a bunch. They sell like crazy down here. I had 6 hatchery ones and I could have sold 50. I only have one hen and the Big Daddy is coming this weekend. He's ready to do some breeding. I have 2 XW pullets and one cockerel. I'm going to separate him out tonight. It would be great if my girls were laying. Never started and they are 7 mo old. I'm putting up a set of white Christmas lights shortly with a timer to slowly get them into lay.

 

[bramblefir]

What does everyone do about bumblefoot? Do you treat it or do you cull the birds?

I have two pullets with it right now and they're likely to get it again in the future due to their penchant for perching on the wire field fencing and our narrow metal gates. The rest of the flock is fine.

My own thoughts are that I should cull them because overall health is at the very top of my breeding goals. So then I could either treat them until recovered and give the healed birds away (with full disclosure of course) or they could go in the compost for next year's garden.

 

[hellbender]

What does everyone do about bumblefoot? Do you treat it or do you cull the birds?

I have two pullets with it right now and they're likely to get it again in the future due to their penchant for perching on the wire field fencing and our narrow metal gates. The rest of the flock is fine.

My own thoughts are that I should cull them because overall health is at the very top of my breeding goals. So then I could either treat them until recovered and give the healed birds away (with full disclosure of course) or they could go in the compost for next year's garden.

Most experienced backyard flock owners do NOT cull an otherwise healthy bird but rather treat it. I'll leave the treatment options to be explained by those with a bit of experience because of the numbers we have, the bird is evaluated and if it looks like there will be a long convalescent period, we cull.

 

[bramblefir]

Thanks for the reply!

I'm familiar with the treatment for bumblefoot and do have everything on hand needed for treatment. My greatest concern comes from the fact that the pullets are very likely to keep getting it. The fencing and gates that these two spend a lot of time on have plenty of sharp spots to cut their feet on.

 

[armorfirelady]

Oven treated bumble foot before. But even after a couple months of treatment she still has a scab there. I haven't treated it since and she has had no problems. It was 18 months ago that I treated it

 

[Arielle]

Oven treated bumble foot before. But even after a couple months of treatment she still has a scab there. I haven't treated it since and she has had no problems. It was 18 months ago that I treated it

lol I know you didn't mean " oven" . . but it sure was a funny solution!!

 

[bramblefir]

The "oven" treatment is 100% effective.

 

[armorfirelady]

Quote:

The "oven" treatment is 100% effective.

Darn autocorrect gets me every time. Def funny & true tho

 

[gjensen]

What does everyone do about bumblefoot? Do you treat it or do you cull the birds?

I have two pullets with it right now and they're likely to get it again in the future due to their penchant for perching on the wire field fencing and our narrow metal gates. The rest of the flock is fine.

My own thoughts are that I should cull them because overall health is at the very top of my breeding goals. So then I could either treat them until recovered and give the healed birds away (with full disclosure of course) or they could go in the compost for next year's garden.

Bumblefoot is not something to cull for. Culling for illnesses involves chronic or terminal illnesses, and birds that are considered "vulnerable". Bumblefoot is an infected wound that has no genetic predisposition.

It can be difficult to treat long term because of it's location. Prevention is the key, if possible.

Treating it is cutting it open, draining it, disinfecting the wound, and treating it with some form of antibacterial product. If it has not progressed far, it may be the most you can do is to peal back the scab and treat it. Further along it is more like a minor surgery.

The challenge is keeping it clean after the procedure.

Do not use anything that contains an anesthetic.

You can find more detailed directions online.