I figure I will be treating the leg mites for the rest of her life at this point but thats ok. Everyone is healthy despite the couple mites I keep finding. Its just odd. We can be totally clear, I can search and search and not find one for a couple weeks and then we start the process over.
The coop and run being big does make the problem a bit harder to control. I spend more time cleaning than anything else so they have one dang clean coop. No one seems bothered by the mites though. I only found out about them when the hen was killed by a snack and in searching for the cause found a couple little buggies. I cannot deal with bugs so I am a bit OCD with the cleaning and bug stuff right now. For now I can find no bugs. The poor birds get searched daily. They are not thrilled. Still the only ones I find them on are the fancy feathers. They range near the fruit trees which is where the wild birds hang out too. I think the wild birds are the source of this particular problem too. I don't sell or show my birds so I guess its not a huge issue as long as I can keep it semi under control. How do raisers who have 50 or 100 birds deal with this issue. Is there run just more secure from outside invaders? I really like them having the freedom to nap under the plum tree or raid the tomato plants when no one is looking.
Unfortunately the hen with the swollen foot is getting worse not better despite the various treatments she is getting. The heat is too much for her when she is already stressed. I think if we do not lose her naturally we will end up culling her. She is very uncomfortable if not in pain at this point and cleaning, soaking, antiseptic, antibiotics, and even draining have not helped. The foot just keeps getting worse. There is now a sore on the side that won't heal. I am at my wits end with this gal. She is one of 4 I got out of pity not intelligence. They looked so ragged and scrawny and ill. I had no other chickens at the time and I just could not leave them. Thats when my headaches started. I hate thinking about culling because I want her to make it but its looking pretty bad. The 2 remaining of these original 4 I guess are healthy although they are the 2 I am treating for scaley leg mites lol. Oh dear my pity buys always end this way. I will just keep working at it and what will be will be. I can do no more than my best I suppose. I just wish my best was enough.
