Overwhelmed chicken owner with random questions.

[Hatrick]

Thank you all a million times over.

Being a bit of a type A (or a lot of a type A) personality, it's hard to not have control over every detail. And I've owned a lot of pets in my life (snakes, ferrets, rabbits etc.) no other one has given me such stress.

I will try and refrain from that now. Lay back and watch my goofy chicken girls parade around the yard.

Thanks again!

 

[elmo]

Quote:
That's a good rule whether you have chickens or not!

 

[PunkinPeep]

Quote:
That's a good rule whether you have chickens or not!

yeah

 

[tdgill]

We pet chicken owners just love them soooo much! Not that you experienced farmer types can't love them too but you do seem to be much more logical and matter of fact about the whole thing. Common sense and experience no doubt. My bf had to tell me "I'll be darn if you're gonna have a nervous breakdown over $20 worth of chickens!" hahahahah. I have my days. But then I am STILL trying to figure out my run set up. They have the fenced yard at the moment but thinking i want something pred. proof too. And am keeping two flocks and rotating range time. I didnt plan on having 3 (now 2 - I rehomed) roosters to five hens. But we're chillin and enjoying them along the way. I'm glad I did the wait and see.

 

[fiberart57]

Hello Hatrick,

I also am a new chicken owner with similar worries. While I don't have an injured or even mildly sick bird I used to scare myself sleepless at night reading the Emergencies, Sick and Diseases section. So I decided to regulate my fright to two or three days per week and I am always leery of "Graphic Photos".

The I go out and watch my birds fling themselves around their run in wild abandon and eat like pigs and I think they're okay.

Mary

 

[tdgill]

I had also typed that I thought this BYC site was ONE reason I was anxious and overwhelmed at times. Information overloaded! But my fault no one else's. And the folks on here are so wonderful and eager to help out that I can't imagine NOT being a part of byc. But previous poster had good suggestions. I find it hard to keep my reading and researching to a minimum. I have to remember to GO OUT AND ENJOY the darling things..

we'll get tougher along the way with experience and confidence.

eta:
And sometimes I find its less stressful to just ASK my questions ahead of researching too much. also I have never had anyone tell me - "go look it up, its been answered before!" but they are helpful and will mention that there are some good posts regarding the topic. And as you know there are several opinions at times so just take it with a grain of salt and do what works best for you.

 

[embkm]

I don't wear certain clothes out to the coop, but I do have "chicken shoes". Fake crocs that can be hosed off... that's only because I don't want to be tracking chicken poo into my house. The kids have chicken shoes too, but that and washing hands are the only thing we do.

Oh and bug spray... but I need bug spray to go anywhere out in my yard.

 

[ChooksChick]

Okay, I'm going to agree with everyone on how important it is to limit your anxiety and to try to deal with it as you can, and as you encounter it.

But...

I'm going to be pragmatic about one thing and remind everyone that it's a VERY GOOD IDEA to wear a mask when cleaning out your coop.

Hantavirus and Histoplasmosis are very real, and depending upon your region and your coop structure, you may or may not be susceptible to breathing in a lot of 'chicken dust' when you clean, but it doesn't take but one breath of the wrong thing to get a person very sick.

We have had people diagnosed with both diseases on here, and my prayers are that no one else will encounter these diseases, but to be practical, a mask for a few minutes when scooping/sweeping can protect you and your loved ones.

You can pretend you're a doctor or that it's your beak- this makes my kids laugh. Why not?

 

[Cherrypie]

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Although this might be a natural reaction to a problem, I wonder why some feel compelled to feel badly? Hatrick, take heart!

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.

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.

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!

The birds practically raise themselves if you let 'em.

Can I just tell you that I love you? Thank you for such wonderful advice; this newbie really needed to hear this.

 

[Beekissed]

Thanks! That is always good to hear!

I think its easy to get caught up in other's fear and I find myself obsessing sometimes when I read about symptoms of illness on here. Just like when I went to nursing school, I imagined I had everything we studied!

Its the same with my animals....sometimes everything they do looks abnormal and I start to worry. Then I just let some time pass and watch them closely. Then I found out I was seeing shadows and feel silly.

Most of the time, it turns out to be nothing but normal, quirky chicken behavior.

After years of doing this, you would think I would learn but it still happens from time to time and I have to give myself a reality check..... and stop reading those illness threads!