Overwhelmed chicken owner with random questions.

Hatrick

Songster
10 Years
Apr 4, 2009
195
0
119
So ever since one of my girls was injured I'm feeling like I'm in over my head. I just have a few random questions.

Is there anything around a typical yard that I should be worried about them getting into? They like to scratch around in the grass clipping pile and yet I thought I read something about "decaying vegetation" and it causing some type of disease?

I let my kids (and their friends) handle the birds, should I be concerned about this?

I've read a lot about "coop clothes" and "shoes" our coop is small so we don't actually walk inside it, but we do handle the birds and do regular maintanance with just our regular clothes on. Is this a problem, do I need to change everytime I deal with the birds? What about my kids?

How do I go about re-introducing my injured bird to her friends? Assuming of course she gets better, I've heard they may reject and/or peck at her?

Now that they're outside free ranging most of the day, do they need grit that I give them? They had it in the brooder but I thought they would access enough on their own now.

That's all folks...for now.
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I'm new to this too, but based on what I've read I can help with a few

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Keep some hand sanitizer near the coop/chickens. Some do carry salmonella and other bugs and they often have poo on them. Better safe than sorry. I know some are worried about contaminating your birds as well as the people. I guess the sanitizer can work both ways.



I've read a lot about "coop clothes" and "shoes" our coop is small so we don't actually walk inside it, but we do handle the birds and do regular maintanance with just our regular clothes on. Is this a problem, do I need to change everytime I deal with the birds? What about my kids?

Again, its more about people or animals getting sick. You woudn't want to track chicken poo all through your house. I don't do this and I may pay the price sometime. I just change my shoes at the door. I guess I just have the old school thought that being too protective can make people and animals both more vunerable.



Now that they're outside free ranging most of the day, do they need grit that I give them? They had it in the brooder but I thought they would access enough on their own now.

Its cheap and easy to provide, might as well have a little on hand for them just in case.

I'm sure if the experts chime in they will have more information. I would think that a small flock carries less risk than a large one.

I'm learning to write that this is all just my opinion.
 
The one thing i think i can answer with certainty is on the grit. My girls are almost 17 weeks old, and i have never given them grit. Before they started free ranging full time, i would sometimes put some sandy gravel from another part of my yard in near their food, but i don't think they needed it.

My girls free range full time, and they have never had any digestion problems.

I lean toward letting their little bodies operate as God designed them as much as i can. And i figure He made them to get their grit from the ground, so as long as they have access to plenty of ground, i'm not worried.

Edited because i didn't notice my typo the first two times i read this... sheesh
 
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Amen PunkinPeep!!!! Very well said. I couldn't agree more!

The only thing I have to add is.. don't fret too much Hatrick.. There is a world of information out there.. just cross the bridge when you get to it.. it's so overwhelming..

I know you have a injured/sick chick to deal with.. and that's really hard.. there are so many things that it could be, and no way to know what it is. Just do what you can... You are a good chicken mom.
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I've noticed a trend on this forum, of new chicken owners who feel "overwhelmed" by raising a flock or even a few chickens.

So ever since one of my girls was injured I'm feeling like I'm in over my head

Although this might be a natural reaction to a problem, I wonder why some feel compelled to feel badly? Hatrick, take heart!
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There are many ways to raise chickens, most of them derived from trial and error. Try not to over analyze or think too hard over the "how". This should be an enjoyable experience and it shouldn't leave you feeling helpless.
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Chickens are not toxic and have been handled by children for thousands of years. They won't make the kids sick and they don't have to bathe in alcohol gel each time they handle a chicken. Its fun and educational for the kids and it doesn't hurt the chickens one bit.

Farm clothes are not contaminants and most farm folks would fall on the floor laughing if they were told they had to strip down and change every time they entered the house for a drink or a meal. They give their hands a cursory wash with good ol' bar soap or some GoJo and grab a sandwich with the manure still under their nails! I know this because I and everyone I know does the very same thing and have done so for generations. Its called working a farm and it may look dirty but its a healthy way of life.
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If they are free ranging in a good area, they shouldn't need grit. You would be amazed at the items I've found in a gizzard....glass, stones, plastic beads, metals...you name it, they eat it for just this purpose.

Don't worry about your grass clippings. The birds will scratch them to one side and eat the bugs. This is all good. Given good free range, the chickens will not be likely to try and ingest moldy grass clippings.

The sickest people and the sickest animals are the ones in controlled environments. The commercial poultry barns are full of diseased, sick animals despite bio precautions out the whazoo. The sickest kids are the ones who are constantly monitored and coddled, cleansed and not allowed to get good and dirty.

Our immune systems work by encountering microorganisms, developing antibodies against them and eliminating the threat. If they are not able to build these strong defenses, they have to be constantly bolstered with medicines. Its the same for animals. Its best to develop a good immune system with good foods, clean water, sun and exercise....and a goodly exposure to natural germs.

Your injured bird can best be re-introduced by being able to see and be seen by your flock but not just thrown back in. If you can wire cage off one corner for a few days with her own feed and water, they won't give her such a hard time when they come in contact.

Hope this helps! Relax!
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The birds practically raise themselves if you let 'em.
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i think i agree with beekissed, but i don't really have the experience to back it up.

i just take it one little thing at a time and let the seat of my pants do the flying for the most part.....and my ears do the playing....and so forth. haha

i do understand feeling overwhelmed when you have your first injured chicken. suddenly all your utopian happy chicken dreams are dashed, and it seems like everything is a threat. i dealt with that too. i wanted to hide my chickens from everything after the raccoons got to them one night. but i realized that i can't control everything, and i need to let them live and be happy and deal with just the things that are actually a problem - like a sturdier, more predator-proof chicken coop. i'm realizing, like beekissed said, that they will almost raise themselves - and also that i can trust my instincts and common sense. i've gotten paranoid about several things, always to learn that my original instincts were right.

so take heart.
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In general, I agree with the other posters, don't overthink the whole thing.

But one thing on the coop clothes and coop shoes: I am careful about not wearing the clothes and shoes that I wore to the feed store into my coops. Too easy to carry a disease that another chicken owner has taken to the feed store back to my own flock.
 
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I never thought about that...good idea..thank you-I leave my chicken shoes outside ( crocks) also the clothes I wear in the coops I make sure Im all done wth chickens for the day and come in wash up then change my clothes-pulling them inside out-I have a few shorts and tshirts that have been designated for cleaning days-so if they get really gross I throw them away forget putting them in my washer.
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Other than than I have matts at my front door and I walk in and out all the time-I dont notice anything bad smelling most of the time-MY DH would be the first one to say something to me about it-
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I have to agree with Beekissed...my grandchildren check the chicken pen twenty times a day to make sure no egg gets cold! The rule is you have to wash your hands before you eat. Otherwise, have fun with them. I don't usually wear my work clothes to town and that includes the shoes I wear around the farm so that isn't a problem. I have cows, horses, chickens, rabbits, cats and a dog so I certainly don't have a separate set of clothes for all of them!
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Yeah, shoes are no problem for me, either, as my yard shoes are not presentable enough to wear to town! But I do have to be careful when I come back from town to change clothes -- too easy to leave the same t shift on, if I don't pay attention.
 

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