Poultry pampering?

[MROO]

Thanks, @MROO, I will keep this in mind if it gets cold enough here to worry about frostbite! This is good stuff to know, I learned a lot from this post! ... er, how cold, exactly, might that be?

I'm a good bit further north than y'all - in Maryland, so we get some pretty cold temps, but the kicker here is the humidity. Cold doesn't really cause the frostbite. DAMP cold is the real risk factor, at least around here. Chickens are pretty good at fluffing up and keeping warm, as long as you don't have drafts below their feet (that's why ventilation is usually up high, above the roosts, or low and away from roosts,) but they can't do anything against the humidity. When humidity is high and temps dip well below freezing, it's hard to keep that exposed skin from icing ... hence the Vaseline.
Oh - and there's another reason for oiling combs ... they look really nice, and a little primping never hurts! Most of my roos really enjoy it, too. Sammy will lower his head and totally relax during a good comb massage. I swear, when prepping for a show, he sometimes gets so relaxed it's almost obscene. I almost expect him to light up a cigarette afterwards!

 

[ValerieJ]

Then there's Herman the House Rooster. He gets foot-baths regularly throughout the Spring and Summer, mainly because he's a dirtball and I refuse to allow him to wander my house with muddy feet. My Sammy is a clean-legged bantam, so he just gets a baby-wipe. Now, if I could only do the same with the kids and the dogs ...

Well, then, your rooster must be more house trained than the kids and the dogs? Does he have a litter box or something?

 

[MROO]

This is quite possibly the best thing I have read all week! No way are my lil poo machines chillin' in my house. I know many people allow that but um...no. And I have to agree on the kids and dog! My dog, his fave spot is under a pine tree out from. You can imagine the sticky from time to time. As if not enough yuck, he then likes to roll in the SAND out back. Dear Lord smh. And 3 teen boys in high school sports...yah. Nuff said!

Understood! Herman and Sammy don't come in often (although Herman spent his first two years in the house) but when they do, they have free roam. Herman will (grudgingly) wear a diaper, but Sammy is very good. Once he's done his business, he'll sit on my shoulder for hours while I work at my desk or computer. When he starts falling asleep, I know it's time to put him back outside. We all know what they do all night on that roost!
So, Yup, we do a LOT of sweeping up around here. As far as the kids go, DS is a serious grease monkey with a penchant for pulling things apart, and DD plays with cows and chickens every spare minute of her day. We have a little dog who has decided that kitty litter boxes are good places to hide and a house moose disguised as a big, ditzy one who has decided that it's her mission in life to protect us from "Ooh Shinies" on the ceiling. In addition to that circus, we have a handful of cats and the assortment of odds and ends wandering in at all hours - two legged and four legged, human and not - and who knows what trails in after them. As long as they park their muddy boots and their attitudes by the door, they're all welcome. Friends and family are well aware of our visitation policy. Others learn it pretty quickly:
If you're coming to see us, come anytime.
If you're coming to see the house ... make an appointment!

 

[ValerieJ]

Understood! Herman and Sammy don't come in often (although Herman spent his first two years in the house) but when they do, they have free roam. Herman will (grudgingly) wear a diaper, but Sammy is very good. Once he's done his business, he'll sit on my shoulder for hours while I work at my desk or computer. When he starts falling asleep, I know it's time to put him back outside. We all know what they do all night on that roost!
So, Yup, we do a LOT of sweeping up around here. As far as the kids go, DS is a serious grease monkey with a penchant for pulling things apart, and DD plays with cows and chickens every spare minute of her day. We have a little dog who has decided that kitty litter boxes are good places to hide and a house moose disguised as a big, ditzy one who has decided that it's her mission in life to protect us from "Ooh Shinies" on the ceiling. In addition to that circus, we have a handful of cats and the assortment of odds and ends wandering in at all hours - two legged and four legged, human and not - and who knows what trails in after them. As long as they park their muddy boots and their attitudes by the door, they're all welcome. Friends and family are well aware of our visitation policy. Others learn it pretty quickly:
If you're coming to see us, come anytime.
If you're coming to see the house ... make an appointment!

Another

 

[MROO]

Ok so who is going to share their techniques for nail trimming? I do my dogs. Similar I assume. But the holding and such...pointers? Tips?

And oiling legs/combs. Best products? (How do legs look if mites set up shop?)

Look up "scaly leg mites" here on BYC. In the beginning, it looks like the scales are lifted (they are - there are bugs under them!) Think of a goldfish with its' hackles raised - they don't do that, but it's the closest visual I can come up with at the moment. If it goes untreated too long, they get crusty, nasty crud under them and can get infected. They're easy to treat if you catch them early - smother them with Vaseline or use a good poultry spray.
Nail trimming ... hmmm ... I'll bet there's a BYC article on that, too. Our birds are easy to do, They're mostly little bantams and they're show birds, so they're used to being handled, so DD just holds them up with their legs dangling while I clip ... or vice-versa. We usually use small dog nail clippers - guillotine or plier-type, whichever you're comfortable with. You trim them like a dog's, too. Look for the quick and just cut back a little at a time. If they're really overgrown, do them a bit at a time with a week in between to let the quick recede.

 

[MROO]

Another

Welcome to My Life! {{{Sigh}}}

 

[perchie.girl]

Thanks for the giggle...

there is a good reason to inspect toenails.... because you can see all of the foot at this time. Trimming is just like on a dog... find a toenail that shows the quick and trim them all the same amount.

I do it by myself Tuck the chicken under one arm then hold the feet out .... you can wrap in a towel if they are figity...

If you cut to the quick I used sugar.... natural styptic and you can put some in a cup or shallow bowl for dipping. Works on combs and Boo Boos as well.

while you have them constrained take a good look for mites... The oil or Vaseline Starves the mites out for oxygen... If one has them Might as well inspect the rest.... But it needs to be reapplied every day or so.

Then there is Bumble foot. While you have them take a look at the bottoms of their feet... Bumble foot is caused by an injury on the sole of the food. It grows a callus and will cause the bird to limp.... Take a look at some of the informative threads on the subject. But You have to do some surgery if its a big Callus.... it can go pretty deep.

Most places with regard to combs and frost bite just should pay attention to Ventilation... IN the coop. Condensation is what causes combs to frost bite. There are several good articles on the subject. of course there are exceptions

from what i have seen most chickens like being bathed... I wouldnt do it often They dust for a reason this is to get the dander out.... and help with crawling parasites. They have oil in their feathers to keep them shiny and clean and working properly...

deb

 

[OhZark Biddies]

I keep my birds well fed and watered and I remove a lot of chicken eaters who are looking to eat them... and honestly I feel like I’m spoiling them

I grew up with chickens, our own, the neighbors, friends, family, folks at church, etc. ....

... I learned way back then that everyone keeps them a little bit the same and everyone keeps them a little bit different...

Dress em up in costumes, give em bubble baths and caviar, it don’t make me no never mind either way, just keep em fed watered and safe in between all the pamper sessions, and you have my vote for chicken keeper of the year

I think that might be a bit much on the pampering, but you know I’m not here to judge

 

[Shezadandy]

Ok so who is going to share their techniques for nail trimming? I do my dogs. Similar I assume. But the holding and such...pointers? Tips?

And oiling legs/combs. Best products? (How do legs look if mites set up shop?)

I do all mine myself, even the roosters. I set up in a small-ish bathroom, lay a towel down over the counter.

Clippers (I use those white handled cat claw trimmers- much like little scissors) at the ready - I also keep a straight trimmer - like those really small Fiskar (sp?) plant trimmers for itty bitty things, super sharp, which can come in handy for beak trim/shaves too. Sometimes they get too much of a hook going and the top beak can use a little trim, makes it easier for them to eat.

Bird gets laid down on its side - one hand holds the legs (at the bottom of the 'drumstick) - one hand controls the wing/body as they go down on their side - yes, some squabble - but I only bring in the ones that need the attention - despite all the room to roam, some just don't wear their nails down. If held with confidence most will calmly endure the trim. Those that decide it's too much- get turned into a chicken burrito--- wrapped in a towel, not eaten!! -- and trimmed that way.

Always grab off the roost at night so there's no chasing.

If there's ever a question of "is that too close" - always err on the side of leaving things a little long. You'll get a feel for it after you've done it multiple times. Hint: easiest trims are after a couple days on moist ground.

 

[Kdlevesque]

Ok so who is going to share their techniques for nail trimming? I do my dogs. Similar I assume. But the holding and such...pointers? Tips?

And oiling legs/combs. Best products? (How do legs look if mites set up shop?)

Pretty much the same as dogs. Just don’t clip the vein or they will bleed. My girls don’t love it but they tolerate it. I have gotten so good, I’m able to do it by myself. I pick them up while I’m sitting. All of mine do the submissive squat so they are easy to get. I plop ‘em down in my lap and the poultry pedi begins.