The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

Tayl - when I look at that video, her eyes don't look bright. They look like she doesn't feel well. Now - that is very subjective because that might be how she always looked. Do her eyes look "dull" to you or different than they have when she appeared okay?

Like Del/Mumsy said, there are so many things those symptoms could be. I always like to give them some raw liver daily if they are young like that and looking like they're having issues walking/stumbling, etc. The reason I do that is that a B1/B2 vitamin deficiency can cause issues like I described before. Even if that isn't the problem, the liver will be helpful and won't hurt them. Raw, cut into tiny pieces. So many people have run into the B deficiencies and seen marked improvement with the addition of the raw liver that I always think using/trying it is worth the effort. And liver isn't very expensive. It would be a great thing if they got some for a few days and perked up.

(A less "natural" method to supplement the Bs is to use a vitamin drop in their water. I like using the liver as that meat protein is essential and it gives their body the opportunity to get some items that can be very healing in the process.)

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote:
If it was a little chick I would say add sugar to help them drink more. But if heat is an issue try spraying them off with a misting hose. They won't like it but it can help a lot.

 

[Leahs Mom]

BROODY QUESTION

My current broody is the same one that was broody and had chicks the end of December. She is acting a bit differently this time and I need to know if I should be concerned. Here's the scoop:

-Just before going broody, I noticed that she was having loose stools. Very watery.

-I notice that she isn't doing a poo when she comes out to eat. Last time she had a large poo every day. Typical broody poop, stinky, large, etc. This time she has only gone about every FOURTH day. The times she went - also very watery. I happened to be in there the last time she went (now 3 days ago). When I observed, it looked like she was having trouble/straining to get it out. When it finally came, the first "blast" was very wet and at first I thought there might be egg yolk in it. Looked like clear liquid with a little yellow. Then she blasted again and it was still wet, but more "poo" color.

If she had stopped with the first blast I would have been very concerned. Since she was able to pass more that didn't seem strange except that it was very wet/loose and it had the typical broody poo stink.

-Since this wasn't normal for her last time, I wonder if I should be concerned?????

PS: Does this make me an official Poop Watcher?

 

[armorfirelady]

AFL  -
Just a "heads up" on blue kote on that foot.

After I quit putting bandages on my "surgery girl's" foot, I decided that I was going to spray it with blue kote.  After I did that I regretted it.

Not because it isn't a good product, but because the blue masked her foot and leg and I couldn't tell if there were changes... like, was it getting red or any signs of infection/change?  I couldn't tell because it was covered in blue.  And it lasted forever.  Even tried to wash it once and it didn't help.

I like to be able to notice changes.  Sometimes they're subtle but you can catch something before it escalates.  I couldn't tell with the blue kote on there.

 

Thanks for the heads up. it does last a long time. She has some on her legs from a month ago.......but I didn't want to leave her boots on while I am camping. She gets enough dirt in them when I change them everyday after 5 days I could just imagine how packed the dirt would be in her boots, I sprayed them with blue kote just so she doesn't get dirt in her scabs. Monday when I get home I plan on soaking her feet real well, maybe scrape the scabs off and put Nustock on them with wraps. I noticed today on the foot the scab came off of her toes had pink in them. I am wondering if the drawing salve on the pad without the scab is irritating it?

Good news.....my girls survived without food all day. They were out foraging when I got home from work. Of course they started complaining when they saw me & when I went to collect eggs realized they knocked the lid off the FF. little stinkers!! I am sure Edie did it. She loves to sit next to the bucket. I did feed them a little for dinner to show my friend who is watching them how much to give at night. Edie of course hopped on the side of the bucket and ate like a pig. I moved the bucket to the bottom shelf up under the nesting boxes. No way she can get her head in the bucket or knock the bucket around now They all had nice full crops at bedtime and were out foraging the whole evening. Even watched Edie chase some bugs down to eat

And the best part was I got my coop moved back to where it originally was. It's at least 6 inches higher now & I had enough landscape bricks to put under the base of the coop, and the chicken wire was tossed so no more chances of foot injuries. Girls happily dug thru grass & DL where the coop was and the dirt under the coop. I am sure it will keep them occupied tomorrow as well. And they were out till dark foraging just like they used to.

 

[armorfirelady]

hmmm.if I had to guess..it would be heat stroke.
Not cocci looking..not disease looking
She has obvious signs of stress and she is hot..possible infection

Listen to her lungs

Ha, apparently I was the one stressing her out taking pics of her.  She flew the coop and is walking around pretty normally and no longer panting.  I still see her shaking her head or twitching though.  Her lungs sound clear.  She is one that doesn't always go out to free range.  I think she might be low on the pecking order and seems to prefer to be with herself or at least away from the roos.  Today she wouldn't eat when I was in there even.  I'll keep her separated into the dog crate with some save a chick electrolytes.   

Their coop is extremely well ventilated- grow out hoop house with open air sides and slated front wooden crate at the back for sleeping.  It's always shaded.  Low 80's today.
But I have been concerned that they aren't drinking a lot of water.  I thought maybe it was because of the fermented feed being wet was helping them stay hydrated.  But it's still in the back of my mind as a concern.  Especially since I thought the first cockerel was heatstroke.  

What can I do to encourage them all to drink more water?  Maybe they were upset that I stopped the ACV?  

I have a dog dish of water and another quart waterer out where they like to hide in the flower bed, plus water in the hoop house. 

When we had temps in the 90s here I gave the hens frozen watermelon chunks, zucchini, and grapes. Lots of water in them naturally so I was sure they stay hydrated. The watermelon was a big hit.

Leah's mom or BDM also has put out a shallow rectangular container like a litter pan with clay bricks or clay pot bottoms in it and filled with water so her hens could lay on the cool bricks when they absorbed the water. There was a picture on here somewhere with its set up. I have also wetted down the grass in their shade area for them to lay on and stay cool.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Yay!

 

[delisha]

Quote: I feed chicken liver..it does not matter what type of liver. Take her temperature tomorrow morning before she eats. If it is 105 or under she does not have infection.

Quote: You have plenty of water out for them..I would add the acv back in the water. They need the extra vitamins in heat.

BROODY QUESTION

My current broody is the same one that was broody and had chicks the end of December. She is acting a bit differently this time and I need to know if I should be concerned. Here's the scoop:

-Just before going broody, I noticed that she was having loose stools. Very watery.

-I notice that she isn't doing a poo when she comes out to eat. Last time she had a large poo every day. Typical broody poop, stinky, large, etc. This time she has only gone about every FOURTH day. The times she went - also very watery. I happened to be in there the last time she went (now 3 days ago). When I observed, it looked like she was having trouble/straining to get it out. When it finally came, the first "blast" was very wet and at first I thought there might be egg yolk in it. Looked like clear liquid with a little yellow. Then she blasted again and it was still wet, but more "poo" color.

If she had stopped with the first blast I would have been very concerned. Since she was able to pass more that didn't seem strange except that it was very wet/loose and it had the typical broody poo stink.

-Since this wasn't normal for her last time, I wonder if I should be concerned?????

PS: Does this make me an official Poop Watcher?

lol..yup..however I understand your concern. Its hot..her urates will be loose. She is probably eating less and she is straining to get rid of what she think she has so she can go back to her brooding.(She probably does not understand why she is not pooing baseballs)

Quote:

 

[flagirl]

I am still dealing with my wellie with bumble foot. i put nustock on, vet wrap and duck tape. It seems to be getting better and she is more active, but this evening, when I removed the wrap, her 1 ft was still swollen, on top and bottom(the other looks less swollen) the scap came off, but I am sure there is a core. It seems more squishy. my problem is, I am not wanting to do surgery since the coop is surrounded by over 1 ft to 2 ft of water and even when she goes out( she was not leaving the coop until aftr I wraped her ft) there is no way she can get in and out without walking in a few inches of water. I have built up the floor of the coop with at least 1 1/2 ft of sand, but it is always wet, since the water table is high. The water goes down an inchafter a few days without rain, but with 3/10 " rain today, it is back up. should I continue just putting on nustock and wraping. hate to do surgery in these conditions and ther is no place to put her without being alone and she does not like that. how long do I do the wraping?

 

[taylynnp]

Tayl - when I look at that video, her eyes don't look bright. They look like she doesn't feel well. Now - that is very subjective because that might be how she always looked. Do her eyes look "dull" to you or different than they have when she appeared okay?

Like Del/Mumsy said, there are so many things those symptoms could be. I always like to give them some raw liver daily if they are young like that and looking like they're having issues walking/stumbling, etc. The reason I do that is that a B1/B2 vitamin deficiency can cause issues like I described before. Even if that isn't the problem, the liver will be helpful and won't hurt them. Raw, cut into tiny pieces. So many people have run into the B deficiencies and seen marked improvement with the addition of the raw liver that I always think using/trying it is worth the effort. And liver isn't very expensive. It would be a great thing if they got some for a few days and perked up.

(A less "natural" method to supplement the Bs is to use a vitamin drop in their water. I like using the liver as that meat protein is essential and it gives their body the opportunity to get some items that can be very healing in the process.)

Yes, I agree she still doesn't look like she's 100%. But I'm soooo glad she stopped panting and ate when I left her alone. I'll get some liver tomorrow. I think that's a great idea! I do feed a fishmeal feed but maybe some of the ones low in the pecking order haven't been getting enough. And really most chickens probably weren't catching fish in the wild so another animal protein would be good!

Thanks to everyone for your help. I'll try to keep them cooler with those tips and tempt them with treats to hydrate. They weren't big fans of watermelon before but I'll try again! Maybe if I sprinkle some feed over the top of it.

 

[Mekare]

Hello.