Consolidated Kansas

[HEChicken]

Has anyone been to the Mother Earth fair in Topeka?
http://www.motherearthnews.com/fair/kansas.aspx#axzz3DPca9pX8

The speakers look pretty good.

LOL - you may have missed it but in my last post to you, I suggested you might consider going. Last year was the first one in Kansas and I went and got to attend a live processing demo by Joel Salatin which was really helpful to me. I am planning to go this year as well.

As for where to cut, if you feel up the jaw bone until you get to the end of the jaw, that is where you want to cut. Immediately above the jaw bone, in the soft space. Ironically, the best way to avoid hurting them too much is to do it HARD and fast. When I started, I watched a lot of YouTube videos and the takeaway (for me) was "Make sure you don't cut through the windpipe". I was so afraid of doing that, that I cut too gently and wound up having to do multiple to get down to the jugular. However, cutting in the location I suggested (on the side of the neck, above the jawline), there is almost no danger of cutting the windpipe, which runs more down the front/center of the neck. So now I give it all I've got to make sure I only have to cut once. The cut is deep but I welcome the spurt that results as it means I will only have to cut once, which in the end is far less pain and trauma to the bird than multiple shallow cuts.

 

[HEChicken]

Oh, I just looked at the schedule and it looks like Joel Salatin is doing the same live poultry processing demo again this year that he did last year.

 

[sharol]

I've enjoyed the talk on butchering.

@sharol - I think someone said (maybe you?) that you had written notes on butchering from a BYC gathering or something. I'd love a copy.

I copied it into a PM

 

[sharol]

Oh, and I meant to say, I'm thinking about treating Paul for scaly leg mites anyway just because it can't hurt. The treatment seems to be soaking in oil to suffocate the mites and then spreading petroleum jelly on. He isn't handleable per se so I think I'll grab him off the roost tonight and do a treatment just because I can't see the harm in it and just in case that's what it is, it might help. It will also give me a chance to evaluate for edema which might give me a better clue as to what is going on with him. I'd really love to be able to help him and not have to cull.

When you do that. Get a good look at the bottoms of his feet. One of my birds had a foot that swelled like that when she had bumblefoot -- it got pretty far advanced, but she survived it (she is 4 now -- that was 3 years ago). It wasn't both feet though. He is a gorgeous bird. I hope you figure it out. He's too pretty to cull, but I understand about not wanting him to suffer.

 

[HEChicken]

When you do that. Get a good look at the bottoms of his feet. One of my birds had a foot that swelled like that when she had bumblefoot -- it got pretty far advanced, but she survived it (she is 4 now -- that was 3 years ago). It wasn't both feet though. He is a gorgeous bird. I hope you figure it out. He's too pretty to cull, but I understand about not wanting him to suffer.

Oh for sure but….I've seen quite a few cases of bumble foot and while this guy might have a bumble in addition, it isn't what is causing this degree of swelling in both feet. I've had several birds with bumbles but in most cases it doesn't seem to cause them any pain or loss of quality of life. I did have to do surgery on one hen about a year and a half ago. Hawkeye helped and we thought we had got it all out but the swelling didn't go down and about 2 months later, I saw a kernel emerging from the top of her foot. I did a second surgery on her and she's never looked back since. She is still with me (one of the birds who will retire here) and still happy. She is getting older now and laid quite well this year but it was probably her last year of really consistent laying.

 

[milomac]

think it is good that you treat for mites. I have had chicks that I raised over year old and just one out of six showed signs of mites. After treating I as amased at how well she looked. I treated her and forget to check for several weeks so I don,t know when they started improving

 

[zigzag45]

LOL - you may have missed it but in my last post to you, I suggested you might consider going. Last year was the first one in Kansas and I went and got to attend a live processing demo by Joel Salatin which was really helpful to me. I am planning to go this year as well.

As for where to cut, if you feel up the jaw bone until you get to the end of the jaw, that is where you want to cut. Immediately above the jaw bone, in the soft space. Ironically, the best way to avoid hurting them too much is to do it HARD and fast. When I started, I watched a lot of YouTube videos and the takeaway (for me) was "Make sure you don't cut through the windpipe". I was so afraid of doing that, that I cut too gently and wound up having to do multiple to get down to the jugular. However, cutting in the location I suggested (on the side of the neck, above the jawline), there is almost no danger of cutting the windpipe, which runs more down the front/center of the neck. So now I give it all I've got to make sure I only have to cut once. The cut is deep but I welcome the spurt that results as it means I will only have to cut once, which in the end is far less pain and trauma to the bird than multiple shallow cuts.

Opppps, now I remember where I got the Mother Earth Fair thought from, credit where credit is due....

Agreed on YouTube... "Dont cut the windpipe" was what I took from all the videos. And yes, I had to do multiple cuts as I recall. We looked back at wondered if we were just going to soft - so this is confirmation.

 

[zigzag45]

@sharol - Thank you.

 

[chicken danz]

HEChicken it's kind of hard to tell much from pictures but I can offer up this little tidbit. I had an old brahma rooster with these big massive feet and legs. I butchered him when Sharol was here. I always wondered what it was. Well it was like super thick skin. It looked sore while he was alive but it was more like calluses than anything. Just massive growth. I have no idea if it's the same thing or not. I treated several times for leg mites but that wasn't the problem. It was just an age thing I guess.
Busy day today and I didn't get nearly as much done as I planned. At least I got my feed and got the feeding done.

 

[morgangirl1]

Gosh, it sounds like everyone is getting hurt! From head to toe, goodness. I hope everyone gets better soon.
One of our birds has torn I believe her ear lobe. We have put blue coat on to the thing and noone is picking on it. I can esily find her because of the big purple dot on her head. anything elese I should do?