Love your stories...your hubby telling you no more is too funny made me laugh and think of my hubby! He says as long as it makes you happy....so that's how I Have 11 chickens...wonder if it would work for a dog!! haha
From tragedy comes growth
- Thread starter fifenashia
- Start date
- Thread starter
- #62
fifenashia
Songster
He knows he cant win but he likes to pretend that his vote counts haha
Great Journal. I loved to read it from page one. You are a true blue good chicken momma. Nice job. Your flock is definintly loved!
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- #64
fifenashia
Songster
We have developed quite a routine at this point. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE gets locked up at night, so my oldest lets them all out in the am before the school bus runs. Then when I get home at 6ish, I sit on the steps for a few minutes with whatever scraps I have that day and give everyone some attention. At about 8:00 (some nights have been later than others) DH and I head down to put them all up. The ducks and goats follow us down and I put up the goats with promises of hay. Sometimes they go for it but that old saying about being "stubborn as a goat" is SO TRUE! Those little buggers get an ideal and forgetaboutit.
We feed all the birds some grain and scratch. The girls are usually in the hen house by now since it is dark but they always come out for grain (my little carb addicts
Tonight though, little lightning was not hanging around. We think she may have headed next door to her original flock,
I'm starting to think of the possibility of getting a rooster..... Don't tell DH!
- Thread starter
- #65
fifenashia
Songster
No sign of little Lightning today, not sure if she went home and stayed in today. I'm hoping so. DH keeps shaking his head at me and stating that it wasn't even "my" chicken. I know that, but regardless of who she belongs to, I don't want her cold or hurt.
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- #66
fifenashia
Songster
It only took me 3 years but we finally got the chicken coop fixed today! It was a beautiful 70 degree day and so I drug DH to Lowes and we got some roofing supplies and fixed the coop as best we could. It's definitely not perfect but it is a step in the right direction. I can see a few changes that will need to be done in the Spring before we turn it over to the goats but I am pleased for now with it.
Tomorrow I am working on the goat's house, adding some more plywood and insulation.
The girls look to be molting, but the new feathers are not coming in, it seems like they have looked to be molting forever. I'm slightly worried but that is nothing new. I plan to scour the boards tonight and see what I can find... I worry primarily since that strange chicken hung out a while. Gosh I hope she did not have something that passed onto my birds....
Tomorrow I am working on the goat's house, adding some more plywood and insulation.
The girls look to be molting, but the new feathers are not coming in, it seems like they have looked to be molting forever. I'm slightly worried but that is nothing new. I plan to scour the boards tonight and see what I can find... I worry primarily since that strange chicken hung out a while. Gosh I hope she did not have something that passed onto my birds....
- Thread starter
- #67
fifenashia
Songster
Winter has hit here in Kentucky, and with it the normal problems associated with birds who don't fly south when it snows! The hens are finally starting to grow those feathers in which is great because for a while there I thought we had some feather dropping illness going through the whole flock! They are smarter then the ducks and tend to stay in when it snows or is too cold to generally be out and about. The ducks make such a mess of that coop, it drives me crazy to think of them sitting on wet straw under the hen house. I'm already planning the new facility for them this summer. I don't think they will be going into the new chicken house. too messy! I have a few months to plan though so no worries there.
Last week, I noticed Perry (our Pekin) limping. I figured it was probably a strain and would leave him be for a few days. Yesterday though it was worse, he can barely get around and he is heavily favoring his left foot. So I searched the forums and found a few theories: bumble foot, niacin deficiency and a strained muscle were the top 3 theories I had running in my head. Regardless of what it was, a soak in a hot bath inside and some extra TLC couldn't hurt. Plus it gave me an opportunity to look at him closer. So last night I brought him up, let him play in my tub and then I tried to inspect his feet.
I am pretty sure it's bumble foot. His heel is swollen significantly compared to the other foot. And it's pretty solid feeling too. Now my options are to cut into it to get the infection out or to try some salt compresses and neosporin. I hate the idea of cutting into him, he is in a dirty coop all day long and I can't keep him inside to recover. I'm afraid of introducing more bacteria into his system. So it looks like we will be starting with some warm bath soaks, salt water compresses and neosporin. I will give it a few days and if there is no improvement, looks like I will have to set up a sick ward in my bathroom again and try to get the infection out more aggressively. For now, he is alert and active so that's a great sign at least, maybe I caught it early enough.
Obviously, any other tips or advice is welcomed. This is my first case and I'm pretty attached to the lille bugger.
Last week, I noticed Perry (our Pekin) limping. I figured it was probably a strain and would leave him be for a few days. Yesterday though it was worse, he can barely get around and he is heavily favoring his left foot. So I searched the forums and found a few theories: bumble foot, niacin deficiency and a strained muscle were the top 3 theories I had running in my head. Regardless of what it was, a soak in a hot bath inside and some extra TLC couldn't hurt. Plus it gave me an opportunity to look at him closer. So last night I brought him up, let him play in my tub and then I tried to inspect his feet.
I am pretty sure it's bumble foot. His heel is swollen significantly compared to the other foot. And it's pretty solid feeling too. Now my options are to cut into it to get the infection out or to try some salt compresses and neosporin. I hate the idea of cutting into him, he is in a dirty coop all day long and I can't keep him inside to recover. I'm afraid of introducing more bacteria into his system. So it looks like we will be starting with some warm bath soaks, salt water compresses and neosporin. I will give it a few days and if there is no improvement, looks like I will have to set up a sick ward in my bathroom again and try to get the infection out more aggressively. For now, he is alert and active so that's a great sign at least, maybe I caught it early enough.
Obviously, any other tips or advice is welcomed. This is my first case and I'm pretty attached to the lille bugger.
- Thread starter
- #68
fifenashia
Songster
Well, we are into treatment day 2. No one has responded on the other threads to my requests for information or help but I am muddling through somehow. I figured I would detail specifically how I went about treating my Perry from start to finish and that way I have a record.
Day 1: noticed the limp but let it go and vowed to keep eye on it.
Day 2: He appeared to be getting worse, he was using his wings for balance when walking but he preferred to stay in one spot, he was laying down in the yard a lot but could move when needed to.
Day 3: He refused to move when I went down to put them all up for the night. I picked him up and brought him inside. Put him in a warm water bath in my garden tub. Made it deep enough that he could swim. Afterwards, I inspected his foot the best I could by myself but couldn't see anything significant and so I took him down to the coop for the night. I slathered some triple antibiotic ointment on his foot before taking him down.
Day 4: I brought him up for another warm water bath and his foot looked worse, It was hot to the touch and his leg was swelling. We discussed antibiotics and various issues it could be, DH looked at the foot and thought he saw some cracks on the heel. Like when we get cracked heels in the winter. So I did a salt water compress (1 cup hot water and 2Tbsp table salt dissolved in it) when it cooled enough I soaked a rag in it and wrapped his foot up. He seemed to like this a lot and sat perfectly still for me. After the rag cooled, I slathered his foot with triple antibiotic cream and put him in a box in our dog's crate for the night. I put a blanket over him to reduce light and impact from the cats/dogs.
Day 5: I did a morning bath and salt compress. While applying antibiotic cream a scab seemed to come off on my hand. I palpated his heel but nothing came out. I was not brave enough to squeeze hard. I put on antibiotic cream and massaged it in. Then put him in the crate and brought him out the main room with the fam. I offered food and water throughout the day and then gave him his evening bath. He is more active now and walking better. He is not quite as compliant for the salt compress but I managed to get it on for at least 10 minutes. I slathered him with antibiotic ointment again and DH inspected his foot noting that the swelling is going down. I also noted that his heel felt less solid and more... squishy when I put cream on it tonight. All good signs!
We opted out of oral antibiotics as I wanted to use the least restrictive/invasive means possible. If the infection worsens at this point which it does not appear to be doing then I will revisit the ideal of Duramycin 10. For an 800mg dose you would use 2Tbsp powder to 1 gallon water. They recommend 400-800 for chickens and since Perry is a large duck I decided I would mix up the 800 dose and give it to him via dropper 3X a day. Thankfully we have not gotten to that point. I also would contact the vet prior to administering any medications just to be sure my math was correct!
He is doing better tonight and I am super relieved. Tomorrow I will bathe, compress, cream his foot and then leave him in the crate without the box. And I'll put down food/water. I go into work late but wont be home until after dark. Just in time to do evening chores and give him his 2nd round of bath, compress, and cream again.
Will keep updating as we go along!
Day 1: noticed the limp but let it go and vowed to keep eye on it.
Day 2: He appeared to be getting worse, he was using his wings for balance when walking but he preferred to stay in one spot, he was laying down in the yard a lot but could move when needed to.
Day 3: He refused to move when I went down to put them all up for the night. I picked him up and brought him inside. Put him in a warm water bath in my garden tub. Made it deep enough that he could swim. Afterwards, I inspected his foot the best I could by myself but couldn't see anything significant and so I took him down to the coop for the night. I slathered some triple antibiotic ointment on his foot before taking him down.
Day 4: I brought him up for another warm water bath and his foot looked worse, It was hot to the touch and his leg was swelling. We discussed antibiotics and various issues it could be, DH looked at the foot and thought he saw some cracks on the heel. Like when we get cracked heels in the winter. So I did a salt water compress (1 cup hot water and 2Tbsp table salt dissolved in it) when it cooled enough I soaked a rag in it and wrapped his foot up. He seemed to like this a lot and sat perfectly still for me. After the rag cooled, I slathered his foot with triple antibiotic cream and put him in a box in our dog's crate for the night. I put a blanket over him to reduce light and impact from the cats/dogs.
Day 5: I did a morning bath and salt compress. While applying antibiotic cream a scab seemed to come off on my hand. I palpated his heel but nothing came out. I was not brave enough to squeeze hard. I put on antibiotic cream and massaged it in. Then put him in the crate and brought him out the main room with the fam. I offered food and water throughout the day and then gave him his evening bath. He is more active now and walking better. He is not quite as compliant for the salt compress but I managed to get it on for at least 10 minutes. I slathered him with antibiotic ointment again and DH inspected his foot noting that the swelling is going down. I also noted that his heel felt less solid and more... squishy when I put cream on it tonight. All good signs!
We opted out of oral antibiotics as I wanted to use the least restrictive/invasive means possible. If the infection worsens at this point which it does not appear to be doing then I will revisit the ideal of Duramycin 10. For an 800mg dose you would use 2Tbsp powder to 1 gallon water. They recommend 400-800 for chickens and since Perry is a large duck I decided I would mix up the 800 dose and give it to him via dropper 3X a day. Thankfully we have not gotten to that point. I also would contact the vet prior to administering any medications just to be sure my math was correct!
He is doing better tonight and I am super relieved. Tomorrow I will bathe, compress, cream his foot and then leave him in the crate without the box. And I'll put down food/water. I go into work late but wont be home until after dark. Just in time to do evening chores and give him his 2nd round of bath, compress, and cream again.
Will keep updating as we go along!
there is a really GREAT thread on here about bumblefoot. You say a scab came off in your hand? can you post any photos of the foot, the scab and stuff? that would really help us to help you.
Please?????
Just found it for you.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/236649/bumblefoot-surgery-with-pics-and-how-to
Please?????
Just found it for you.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/236649/bumblefoot-surgery-with-pics-and-how-to
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This is perfect video of bumblefoot surgery being done by ADozenGirlz. It is priceless as far as how to do it. WARNING: graphic video and not for the weak stomached. But just perfect. I have had multiple bumblefoot issues and used these two sources more than once.
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