Keeping Chickens When You Have Arthritis.

[ronott1]

Friday is hatch day, we will see.

That is coming up soon!

It is fun to see what you get from a hatch

 

[cmom]

Especially this one. I hatch out at least a couple of hundred chicks every year. This has been one the hardest to control.

 

[microchick]

How'd the hatch go @cmom?

I have a broody hen that I will probably shove some eggs under. I've broken her twice this season and she stays 'unbroody' for three weeks and then starts fluffing up, dragging her wings and screeching at me at the top of her lungs. In fact, that is her name, Screech. I think she did voice overs for Jurassic Park.

Personally, I've found that if I hatch eggs under a broody in July, the hatch won't go well due to the heat we always have that month.

So how is everyone feeling?

 

[cmom]

The hatch was a success. I'm really surprised as much as the temperature fluctuated. All but one egg has hatched. I think the last egg is probably a quitter but I'll leave it in for a couple more days. Most of the chicks hatched a day early.

 

[microchick]

Good deal! Congratulations. I usually have one or two quitters or infertile eggs with every hatch so it sounds like you had what I consider to be a great hatch!

I was wondering if anybody with arthritis has problems with their feet and how they deal with it when it comes to taking care of their chickens?

This last year I seem to be developing problems with my feet. Lots of pain and my coop is slightly uphill and about 200 feet from our house so it's a walk there and back, especially when I have to make trips back to the house to fetch something I've forgotten.

One thing I've begun doing is using my little garden tractor to haul buckets of feed and water from the house along with tools and a small container of screws and nails I may need during day to day operation. This is my little green wagon. Price is good. It's durable and has a dump feature to it which can be used to haul litter to your compost pile.

 

[cmom]

All of my joints are shot. My Dr wanted me to have one of my knees replaced. I haven't done it and have used liniment. It helps. I also use Osteo Bi-Flex which seems to help.

 

[microchick]

I laughing say I'm going to run a lottery to see which joint gets replaced first. 1)my left knee, 2) my left hip or 3) a spinal vertebrae fusion.

Have you tried the Voltaren gel or the zylocaine rubs? My Rheumy started me on the Voltaren and it helps me a lot. It's OTC now at prescription strength. It works better for me when I combine it with the zylocaine rub, especially over bony prominences like knees, feet and hands.

 

[microchick]

That is a great looking set up with your garden tractor, @cmom. My 'big' wagon is like that only oblong. We use it to haul packages up from the road and move wood from the barn to the house in the winter.

My husband welded an extension onto the handle of my little green wagon for me. It was forever rolling over when I pulled it uphill. Did the trick, plus made it easier for me to pull. I should write to the company and suggest they do a design change on it.

 

[ronott1]

The hatch was a success. I'm really surprised as much as the temperature fluctuated. All but one egg has hatched. I think the last egg is probably a quitter but I'll leave it in for a couple more days. Most of the chicks hatched a day early.

The temps must have been good on average. Good job on monitoring and controling the fluctuations!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

All of my joints are shot. My Dr wanted me to have one of my knees replaced. I haven't done it and have used liniment. It helps. I also use Osteo Bi-Flex which seems to help.
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Don't get a joint replaced until you cannot take it no more, or else you may be dissatisfied. I've had both knees and both shoulders done. You have to be in enough pain to want to go through with the recovery, and to put up with the physical limitations of an artificial joint. Once you are at that point it is worth it.