Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

There is so many!!!!

Yes there are.

 

[rural mouse]

Actually yes they do. They like the green ones better.

Now I'm going to have to get both red and green grapes and see which mine like better. I do find it interesting that 1. They have a preference, and 2. It's for green. Wonder where black ones fall in the list. More research (my curiosity bump is itching again).

 

[RoyalChick]

More Monday mugs

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

Pastel, seriously, I don't think TSC can legally sell them to you any more. I may be wrong.
Some online stores may still sell them to you if you say they are for fish. I think a vet may be your only hope.

Alright. I'll talk to my dad and see what I can do.

 

[Ponypoor]

More Monday mugs

View attachment 3548324

It’s wonderful to see them all together.

 

[ManueB]

I can not speak to legitimate studies. However, I had a couple of chickens with respiratory issues a couple of years ago. I made 'Oregano tea', and added some electrolytes to this and gave it to them for a week. It seemed to help as their symptoms went away.

I put some organic oregano herb in a coffee filter, wrapped tight, then poured hot water over it and let it steep; I mixed in electrolytes and a bit of honey, I then added a few ice cubes (it was warm weather at the time, so I wanted them to have cool water), and put it out for them to drink - removing all but 1 other water source (to encourage them to drink that!) I did this for a week straight and it seemed to help. I gave them 'oregano water" weekly after that for another month.

Google Scholar - mostly limited to broiler chickens, but it is something.

1)
Antibiotic/antibacterial

For oral systemic use for infections there is no scientific proven substance. And would not waste my money on the so called natural stuff out there - having tried this way back with the horses.

For topical use I use an ‘antimicrobial’ soap which we can still get here, but maybe not much longer; you can also try Betadine (iodine soap), which hospital’s use for prescrub for surgery. This is what I will go to once the soap I use is no longer available.

This access to meds is problematic here also, most people just let their animals die rather than get an expensive Veterinarian out to prescribe a med for a simple wound infection.

If the animals lives yay! If not so sad too bad is the motto now for most farmers and small holdings persons. Many animals are now just dying needlessly now in my humble opinion.

2)
CBD oil

McMaster University here in Ontario has been doing studies on it effectiveness for a few years now, the studies are inclusiveness for pain and anxiety, but many swear by it.

I always try stuff out on the horses, my dog and cats in the past to see how things worked (much money has been thrown away on so called natural or organic treatments!), I am interested in how the CBD works for Bob, I may try it for Penelope, and my old horses this winter for their arthritis. See how it works, if it’s effect for them. If it gives them relief perfect!

The problem is that there are no real standards for dose or preparation, it’s the Wild West with the preparation, dose, etc, so that is my main issue with its use.

I am hopeful that universities like McMaster can set dosages and preparation standards if this is a viable product.


Snoozing
View attachment 3547981

Bob's vet put me on to colloidal silver. I thought it was a lot of nonsense but then did some research and there is a fair bit of evidence for it as both anti-bacterial and anti-viral.
This is just one article - when I looked into it I found many others.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7167925/

Surface infections are usually reasonably easy to treat without drugs. Dry, air, sun and removing debris are all effective. That can be true even for quite serious infections if they are localized and not spread around the body.
Same is true for abscesses - open them and get out the gunk and make sure they fill in from the base and not close over - in mammals that is usually all easy because the pus is liquid and drains out on its own or with the aid of a small strip of gauze. It is much harder in chickens because the pus is solid - that is what bumble foot is - an abscess in the foot.

Once an infection is established in the blood stream or in an internal organ that you cannot access it is down to antibiotics or luck.

The only other example I can think of are infections in the intestines. Some of those can be treated by helping good bacteria crowd out the bad ones. That is what all the yoghurt/kefir/ACV stuff is all about.

There is also a thread on BYC about using Chinese Skullcap (a herb) as an anti-viral - again there seems to be a fair bit of data on it in a range of viruses including Marek's. Dosing is hard to understand though.

I'd like to say Lilly seemed more relaxed on CBD but I did not see it. She did clearly move about better so I believe it helped with the arthritis.

Honey is a great antimicrobial for wounds. You can also use chlorhexidine gel in much the same way. For an internal infection there is not really anything to replace an antibiotic. The best you can do is try to boost the chicken's immune system and make certain they are eating and drinking well.

In particular, Apple cider vinegar added to water has been scientifically proven to have no effect on digestive infections.

Many thanks for all the information, I really appreciate it. I will look to see if colloidal silver oral use is approved here ; I have only heard of it being used in the textile industry. I already use chlorexidine and Betadine as disinfectants on wounds (well, either, not and, as I was told chlorexidine should not be used in conjonction to iodine). I have access to our bee's honey but it's so sticky I'm not sure how to use it on a chicken.

And I really agree that one of the best way to do without antibiotics is to try to have chickens with a strong immune system. It's why I personally do believe in using natural products, maybe most of the times not as a treatment but as a kind of support, and also to help prevent. @bgmathteach I do give my chickens herbal teas but they don't all accept to drink it !

Too bad about the CBD not helping stress. We have a saying "brandy in the Bib" for agitated babes, I would have switched that to hemp in the chicken feed ...if it helps with pain, that is already very good.
I will also be interested to read in further studies.

A little sweetheart that has been giving us a lot of worries for health issues. Piou-piou the feral runt has morphed into the most human friendly bird we have. Probably because of all the time we spent tending her.

 

[Ponypoor]

Alright. I'll talk to my dad and see what I can do.

Maybe the horse vet that the stable you ride at, can help. My horse vet is my go to, for all my
Meds for the chickens and of course the horses.

Talk to you riding instructor, she may already have some antibiotics.

And if not then maybe you can order some online - did By Bob get back to you?

 

[Neil1366]

Me and my father went for a walk for Father's Day.
Mugshot Monday.
What were you up to?

Well, okay.

 

[Ponypoor]

Many thanks for all the information, I really appreciate it. I will look to see if colloidal silver oral use is approved here ; I have only heard of it being used in the textile industry. I already use chlorexidine and Betadine as disinfectants on wounds (well, either, not and, as I was told chlorexidine should not be used in conjonction to iodine). I have access to our bee's honey but it's so sticky I'm not sure how to use it on a chicken.

And I really agree that one of the best way to do without antibiotics is to try to have chickens with a strong immune system. It's why I personally do believe in using natural products, maybe most of the times not as a treatment but as a kind of support, and also to help prevent. @bgmathteach I do give my chickens herbal teas but they don't all accept to drink it !

Too bad about the CBD not helping stress. We have a saying "brandy in the Bib" for agitated babes, I would have switched that to hemp in the chicken feed ...if it helps with pain, that is already very good.
I will also be interested to read in further studies.

A little sweetheart that has been giving us a lot of worries for health issues. Piou-piou the feral runt has morphed into the most human friendly bird we have. Probably because of all the time we spent tending her.
View attachment 3548411

And a very pretty girl I might say

Unpasteurized honey is a good antimicrobial, I use it for big wounds on the horses, covered so flies don’t get at it.

Might be a good option to pack in a bumblefoot abcess.

 

[RoyalChick]

And a very pretty girl I might say

Unpasteurized honey is a good antimicrobial, I use it for big wounds on the horses, covered so flies don’t get at it.

Might be a good option to pack in a bumblefoot abcess.

Yes, I had forgotten about honey. Bob mentioned it too. I have never used it, but it is supposed to be quite effective for surface wounds.