Can't figure this out...

[BarnyardChaos]

I've found it easiest to handle chickens when they've gone to roost. They're in a tupor at night. I've handled our fiercest and flightiest birds this way. If you must chase her down during the day and she panics, try to get ahold of her legs instead of grabbing her body from above.

 

[musikfan]

OK. So I went out this morning and picked Prissy up and looked at her feet. Absolutely nothing on the bottoms or sides that looked remotely liked swelling or anything suspicious at this point. I guess I'll just keep an eye on her. She was so good for me! Once I caught her (I basically cornered her in the run), she didn't struggle hardly at all. She was really good and still while I looked at her feet. I did notice that her one toenail is pretty long, so I'm wondering if maybe I just need to trim that. But she still tends to be the one who's always sitting in the dirt a lot. The others hardly ever do that. Who knows? Maybe it's a Barred Rock thing??? Try to figure out the mind of a chicken. LOL!

 

[BarnyardChaos]

Awww such a good girl! I hope she's okay, just lazy!

 

[musikfan]

Awww such a good girl! I hope she's okay, just lazy!

Yeah, maybe that's the case. I don't know... How long is it usually before chickens start to show their age? She's not more than 2 years old.

 

[musikfan]

Hey Guys! I think I figured out the problem. It's her toe nails. I was reading and this will definitely contribute to having difficulty walking. I was looking at some pics of healthy toe nail lengths, and Prissy's are definitely too long, so all I need to do now is to just trim them. I tried to use regular people clippers, but they are too small, so I'm going to get some dog clippers and then we should be good to go. It will probably take some time since I have to do it just a bit at a time so I don't cut into the quick. Let's hope this solves the problem. Otherwise she's acting fine.

 

[Idaho Chicken Bungalow]

Let us know how she does.

 

[Idaho Chicken Bungalow]

The fact that she let you catch her and give a look over says a lot about your bond with her. I have found if you heal them from something they will be closer to you. Even if it's clipping nails. I put some scratch in some gravel when I notice the toenails getting long. One of my biggest fear is trimming toes. I'm a former nail tech, but still make me feel faint.

 

[Anime2lover]

Hey Guys! I think I figured out the problem. It's her toe nails. I was reading and this will definitely contribute to having difficulty walking. I was looking at some pics of healthy toe nail lengths, and Prissy's are definitely too long, so all I need to do now is to just trim them. I tried to use regular people clippers, but they are too small, so I'm going to get some dog clippers and then we should be good to go. It will probably take some time since I have to do it just a bit at a time so I don't cut into the quick. Let's hope this solves the problem. Otherwise she's acting fine.

If you have a relatively silent Dremel, that I find is even easier than dog nail clippers.

 

[musikfan]

The fact that she let you catch her and give a look over says a lot about your bond with her. I have found if you heal them from something they will be closer to you. Even if it's clipping nails. I put some scratch in some gravel when I notice the toenails getting long. One of my biggest fear is trimming toes. I'm a former nail tech, but still make me feel faint.

Funny you should mention the word "bond". Of all three, Prissy is probably the least friendly to me, except of course when I have treats. But she still lets me catch her. Once she's in my arms, she gets pretty calm and doesn't fight me at all - no pecking or anything...at least for now. She may get wise to what I'm doing and eventually protest.

The neighbor was mowing with his tractor today for the first time and it spooked my lavender and she flew up over the fence which is probably at least 4' high. I went down into the yard and she came running up to me but when I went to get her, she ran away from me. I had to work to get her corned and then she still struggled. Ironically, she is the most friendly of them all and has no issues being right beside me when I'm in the coop run. Go figure.....

 

[musikfan]

Good day, friends! I'm going back to this thread again because I need some more direction/advice. I believe that last time I wrote here, Prissy, my Barred Rock, was acting like she had bumblefoot. I checked her over really good and found nothing except that her toe nails needed clipped, which I'm still in the process of doing. However, she is still acting different. She spends much of her time lying in her one spot in the run. She's made a divet in the dirt and just seems content to sit there a lot during the day. Whenever she walks, she just acts like she's "old" and might even have arthritis. She can still move fast if she needs to, and occasionally I will see her act "normal". She's not more than 2 years old. Her legs also look a bit bowed - more than my other chickens. I just can't figure out what's up with her. She's eating and drinking and looks fine otherwise.

She's really mellowed in the year that I've had her. I think she's actually become one of my favorites now! She is always so nice to me - lets me pick her up to clip her nails now. But I'm still puzzled and can't figure out what is up with her.