Official Squatch Watchers

[staceyj]

Who here has Welsummers?
Me, @Rubysword...
Anyone else?

Have you noticed that they are more “prone” to bumblefoot than other breeds?

My australorp never had them. None of the buffs have ever had them. But
BOTH my Welsummers toy with little ones all the time.

Coop is always clean with thick soft litter
Roosting bar should probably be changed from the smooth 2x2 that it is to a 2x4 maybe...
Run is sand dirt mix.

Free ranging is the issue.

they free range, which is along an area of what I can only describe as a strip of pine and magnolia trees 12-18 x90 feet long.

Underfoot is years of tree litter -very soft and bouncy to walk on, that the girls are turning into some incredible composted soil.
But, thanks to the squirrels in the canopy up above, who sit on high branches eating the seeds from the pine cones and dropping the empty petals to the ground. Each of these has a tiny sharp pokey thing on the tip.

It is impossible to “clean them up” but the chicken’s scratching behavior generally turn them downward under the naturally occurring and always renewing pine straw
layer. Also impossible to rid the property of squirrels. I’m in a neighborhood full of pine trees in a town full of pine trees in a state full of pine trees !

Honestly I haven’t felt good for a week. I’ve been struggling with an intestinal bug, and although I’ve kept up with their normal cleaning and care, I haven’t spent much time (in the heat) sitting , snuggling or inspecting like I usually do.

Last night I saw that Ashley has a big bumble on each foot.

I’m going to soak her this afternoon and see what I’m dealing with. Then formulate a plan.

Sure wish I had an extra set of chicken hands here!

I’m cursing myself for all the Jersey type sheets sets I threw away that used to be on my kids beds.
It dawned on me last night as I was brainstorming that the material would have been perfect for swaddling a chicken!
And, man! How perfect would a curved changing table pad with a wide Velcro strap be for dealing with a chicken without a helper?!?

 

[21hens-incharge]

@Rubysword black outcha face and post a pic!!! or post from the back (sheesh, hope THIS doesn't get modded too)

@apryl29 so So SO THRILLED the operation went well for your kiddo. Let her have a butt ton of her favorite foods, in care of the Squatchers!!!

@Redhead Rae always follow your instincts mama.... I don't care what others say about when you should candle or check your eggs... you do YOU sweetie.

Huge old sloppy, MOIST to everyone else.... it's damp and foggy here today... great day for the PIC to go to the zoo huh?!??!

So, for the last few months, Purple Thunder has found ways to escape the run...... she brought Brain out along with her the last couple of weeks.... well, found PT this morning under a tree, no head... and Brain is just M.I.A. altogether. I'm not upset by it, since she's been a thorn in my side since day 1...... but I AM upset because I found her under the tree where the ducks have been nesting.... so now I have to figure out how to round their fluffy behinds up and how to get them back into a coop!

Ahhhh herding ducks.

I remember those days all to well.

What worked best was to get behind them with arms outstretched like playing airplane.
Move slowly and keep steering them.

It helps to have someone running the gate too.

Sorry about your birds.


Rae, Congrats on the new hatchlings!

Apryl, I hope for a full recovery for your small human. No surgery is easy but it sounds like they did a bang up job.

Already feeling very hot out. It is just 80° but feels much warmer.

I am now up to 9 broody hens.

I only have one broody breaker.

 

[Redhead Rae]

Who here has Welsummers?
Me, @Rubysword...
Anyone else?

Have you noticed that they are more “prone” to bumblefoot than other breeds?

My australorp never had them. None of the buffs have ever had them. But
BOTH my Welsummers toy with little ones all the time.

Coop is always clean with thick soft litter
Roosting bar should probably be changed from the smooth 2x2 that it is to a 2x4 maybe...
Run is sand dirt mix.

Free ranging is the issue.

they free range, which is along an area of what I can only describe as a strip of pine and magnolia trees 12-18 x90 feet long.

Underfoot is years of tree litter -very soft and bouncy to walk on, that the girls are turning into some incredible composted soil.
But, thanks to the squirrels in the canopy up above, who sit on high branches eating the seeds from the pine cones and dropping the empty petals to the ground. Each of these has a tiny sharp pokey thing on the tip.

It is impossible to “clean them up” but the chicken’s scratching behavior generally turn them downward under the naturally occurring and always renewing pine straw
layer. Also impossible to rid the property of squirrels. I’m in a neighborhood full of pine trees in a town full of pine trees in a state full of pine trees !

Honestly I haven’t felt good for a week. I’ve been struggling with an intestinal bug, and although I’ve kept up with their normal cleaning and care, I haven’t spent much time (in the heat) sitting , snuggling or inspecting like I usually do.

Last night I saw that Ashley has a big bumble on each foot.

I’m going to soak her this afternoon and see what I’m dealing with. Then formulate a plan.

Sure wish I had an extra set of chicken hands here!

I’m cursing myself for all the Jersey type sheets sets I threw away that used to be on my kids beds.
It dawned on me last night as I was brainstorming that the material would have been perfect for swaddling a chicken!
And, man! How perfect would a curved changing table pad with a wide Velcro strap be for dealing with a chicken without a helper?!?

I don't have Welsummers.

I've used a polo wrap on chickens (fleece strips that they put on horses legs for traveling).

 

[21hens-incharge]

Who here has Welsummers?
Me, @Rubysword...
Anyone else?

Have you noticed that they are more “prone” to bumblefoot than other breeds?

My australorp never had them. None of the buffs have ever had them. But
BOTH my Welsummers toy with little ones all the time.

Coop is always clean with thick soft litter
Roosting bar should probably be changed from the smooth 2x2 that it is to a 2x4 maybe...
Run is sand dirt mix.

Free ranging is the issue.

they free range, which is along an area of what I can only describe as a strip of pine and magnolia trees 12-18 x90 feet long.

Underfoot is years of tree litter -very soft and bouncy to walk on, that the girls are turning into some incredible composted soil.
But, thanks to the squirrels in the canopy up above, who sit on high branches eating the seeds from the pine cones and dropping the empty petals to the ground. Each of these has a tiny sharp pokey thing on the tip.

It is impossible to “clean them up” but the chicken’s scratching behavior generally turn them downward under the naturally occurring and always renewing pine straw
layer. Also impossible to rid the property of squirrels. I’m in a neighborhood full of pine trees in a town full of pine trees in a state full of pine trees !

Honestly I haven’t felt good for a week. I’ve been struggling with an intestinal bug, and although I’ve kept up with their normal cleaning and care, I haven’t spent much time (in the heat) sitting , snuggling or inspecting like I usually do.

Last night I saw that Ashley has a big bumble on each foot.

I’m going to soak her this afternoon and see what I’m dealing with. Then formulate a plan.

Sure wish I had an extra set of chicken hands here!

I’m cursing myself for all the Jersey type sheets sets I threw away that used to be on my kids beds.
It dawned on me last night as I was brainstorming that the material would have been perfect for swaddling a chicken!
And, man! How perfect would a curved changing table pad with a wide Velcro strap be for dealing with a chicken without a helper?!?

I have just one welsummer. So far I have never had to deal with a bumble.

I hope never to have to either.

Yes the jersey sheets would have been really goid to work with.
Maybe an old T-shirt can work.

 

[Smuvers Farm]

Ahhhh herding ducks.

I remember those days all to well.

What worked best was to get behind them with arms outstretched like playing airplane.
Move slowly and keep steering them.

It helps to have someone running the gate too.

Sorry about your birds.


Rae, Congrats on the new hatchlings!

Apryl, I hope for a full recovery for your small human. No surgery is easy but it sounds like they did a bang up job.

Already feeling very hot out. It is just 80° but feels much warmer.

I am now up to 9 broody hens.

I only have one broody breaker.

Sucks about your broodies..... I wish I could get ONE to go broody!!! yeeeesh

Currently, the STDH is gone until the 19 or the 22nd, not sure which yet..... which leaves me the PIC to help herd the ducks..... and he's not really terrific with following directions in that front. I'd found out littlest duck, Dusty, in the main hen coop.... asked the PIC to go into the run and close the coop door once I scooted all the chickens out so I could open the OUTSIDE coop door for Dusty.... PIC proceeded to hold OPEN the RUN DOOR.... so 2/3rds of the chickens got out and we spent a good hour herding them back into the run..... so yeah...... the PIC helping would be a no go.....


I just don't wanna see any of the ducks get plucked... but no adults around to help.....

 

[Chickassan]

My rain barrel is full of frog eggs! I like frogs but I had that barrel screened so they wouldn't do that in there but they've obviously found a way. Guess i'm using the hose until those frogs bake.

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

My mixed breed girl is prone to bumble. I swear she has it permanently. Is so shallow though that I can flick the scab off and it's gone. I've soaked, selves, wrapped, and done nothing. It always looks the same. The same with my oldest girl. She's a leghorn.
One of my Wheatens got a bumble toe. It swelled up and had a pinhead size scab. Soaking and squeezing and lots came out. Never came back.
I really think it depends on the chicken.

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

Try hearding with cardboard. It extends your reach but isn't heavy. Doesn't have to be a giant piece just tell enough they can't hop over and wide enough to extend your reach.

 

[Chickassan]

Marlene keeps a bumble, iv'e cleaned it maybe 4 times now and it always comes back. Iv'e got a decent system of bandageing though, I use baby socks with toe holes cut and wound tape round the top looks goofy as a mofo but way easier than wrapping that tater's foot.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Sucks about your broodies..... I wish I could get ONE to go broody!!! yeeeesh

Currently, the STDH is gone until the 19 or the 22nd, not sure which yet..... which leaves me the PIC to help herd the ducks..... and he's not really terrific with following directions in that front. I'd found out littlest duck, Dusty, in the main hen coop.... asked the PIC to go into the run and close the coop door once I scooted all the chickens out so I could open the OUTSIDE coop door for Dusty.... PIC proceeded to hold OPEN the RUN DOOR.... so 2/3rds of the chickens got out and we spent a good hour herding them back into the run..... so yeah...... the PIC helping would be a no go.....


I just don't wanna see any of the ducks get plucked... but no adults around to help.....

How far from where they go to get back to the coop?

If it's not really far maybe the PIC would do better at the active role.
The goal is to direct them but not cause a panic. Just slow and easy no running.

I was lucky and had a great dog to encourage the geese to keep moving. I most often had to move them in heavy snow. I would drive them into the barn so they would be out of deep snow. Geese tend to plop down and refuse to move. She would shove her nose under their bottoms and give them a lift.