The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[jsmith2952]

Thanks for the link, leahs mom. I'll have to look into it and see if the seller has something that works up around the neck to cover the bald spots. Have you had success with coconut oil? I didn't even consider it because I thought it might smell/taste too good and encourage more pecking. I used a blue food coloring/honey/lemon essential oil mix that worked in the stickiness factor but I wasn't sure if the healing properties in the honey outweighed how long she would consistently need it applied. The area on her neck doesn't look infected, just red, which could be sunburn, since shes the sun worshipper of the group. I just assumed it was irritated because how could it not be? So, is quarantine not necessary then?

 

[SallyinIndiana]

We have a 16 x 10 foot run and I use the DL in it with wood mulch and it is working out very well, I think I would have an easier time with it though if it was covered, plus the girls can't go too far into the run on rainy days since it is not covered.

I also use deep litter in the coop and it is pretty dry so I water it every now and then. It is breaking down well in the coop. Watering it helps with all the dust too. We use cut grass, leaves, pine shavings and dirt in the coop and all that plus the wood mulch in the run. We can get a truck load of mulch for $10 from the city here. I have found that the mulch (like someone else on here has mentioned) really works well in the run.

I have a question for all of you using the deep litter in the run, is your run covered at all from the rain? or is it open?

open

 

[Leahs Mom]

Thanks for the link, leahs mom. I'll have to look into it and see if the seller has something that works up around the neck to cover the bald spots. Have you had success with coconut oil? I didn't even consider it because I thought it might smell/taste too good and encourage more pecking. I used a blue food coloring/honey/lemon essential oil mix that worked in the stickiness factor but I wasn't sure if the healing properties in the honey outweighed how long she would consistently need it applied. The area on her neck doesn't look infected, just red, which could be sunburn, since shes the sun worshipper of the group. I just assumed it was irritated because how could it not be? So, is quarantine not necessary then?

My opinion - I wouldn't quarantine UNLESS the other birds are attacking and causing more damage...then it would be for her benefit.

I made some of the "honey blue kote" stuff too but it is very sticky! Coconut oil will just soak right in very well. Even with the apron it is still very red but doesn't seem to bother her. My main concern is keeping the others from pecking at it because it looks so different and draws attention.


I'll have to go take a photo of my girl's back. It will probably make you feel much better about yours since it looks so bad.

One question, though...are you sure it's just feather's missing from them picking? Have you seen them picking on her? Also, do you have a rooster? And...could you post a photo?

 

[mlowen]

We have a 16 x 10 foot run and I use the DL in it with wood mulch and it is working out very well, I think I would have an easier time with it though if it was covered, plus the girls can't go too far into the run on rainy days since it is not covered.

I also use deep litter in the coop and it is pretty dry so I water it every now and then. It is breaking down well in the coop. Watering it helps with all the dust too. We use cut grass, leaves, pine shavings and dirt in the coop and all that plus the wood mulch in the run. We can get a truck load of mulch for $10 from the city here. I have found that the mulch (like someone else on here has mentioned) really works well in the run.

I have a question for all of you using the deep litter in the run, is your run covered at all from the rain? or is it open?

Mine is enclosed. (See the "my coop" link.) Things get really dusty. I spray water in there every now and then. I've also sprayed with watered down buttermilk, to help the microbes grow. My litter is mostly oak and maple leaves. I just threw in some grass clippings, yesterday, for the first time.

 

[debbiegt]

There seem to be a few BYC members selling and or trading the chicken aprons. Also I see them on Craigslist for my area. FYI

 

[jsmith2952]

The first photo was taken a few weeks ago--if you take a close look the bald spot is just bald, not terribly red. The three other photos I just took now--the dark stuff on the pin feathers is a cross between dirt and the blue food colouring (and most likely blood) I put in the coconut oil/honey mix. Rosie hates me right now and won't come near me, which since the turtleneck/pool incident of yesterday I'm not sure I can blame her for it. I don't have a rooster, only 2 other hens whom I have seen pick at Rosie--not on the neck, mind you, but more of a preening, like chimps do. She very well could be doing it to herself. I have seen the bald area full of little pins poking out, but then a few days later there will be nothing there, not even the soft downy stuff. I'm so frustrated by all this because it periodically looks so sore and I hate it when I can't figure something out....

Thanks again for all the help and advice so far, it's so very appreciated!!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Good. Thanks for the photos. I was thinking it was on the back of the neck so this helps.

Here is some things I would suggest that you do:

-Tonight just before it comes time that they go into the chicken house (probably just around dusk), sit out there and observe what's going on. See if there is any feather picking going on while they're getting settled on the roost as this is when it is most likely to occur. You don't have to do anything at this point, just observer and see what the behavior is. Do this for the next couple of nights. This will give you a better picture of what might be happening.



-Tonight (or some night as soon as possible) after it is dark and they are on the roost, go and do a thorough exam. It's easier to get them off the roost in the dark as they can't see well enough to run off .

Hopefully you'll have a helper but you can do it on your own. If you have a helper they can hold her while you examine. (This really is easiest to do in a darkened area ;0 ) Otherwise...Grab her and stay in a dark area. Find somewhere to sit down and lay her on her side in your lap (easier said than done but just keep a good grip on her). (Use your flashlight to see.) Part the feathers right down to the skin and take a look at the condition of the skin. Look around the vent, under the wings, and up around her head/neck/ears. Look for any signs of mites. Look for signs of lice - these will be whitish clumps around the bases of the feather shafts and very often near the vent. See what the vent looks like. Do as thorough an exam as possible and see what you see.

It is possible that she is doing this because of mites or lice.
It is possible the other chickens.
It is even possible that they could use some extra ANIMAL BASED protein. I usually use some ground meat in small pieces to feed a couple times/week.

 

[Leahs Mom]

There is another ointment that many of us keep in our first aid kits that would likely sooth this and they don't usually peck at it but it has a very strong smell. Not sure you need that...tell us what you see examination.

 

[Leahs Mom]

One more questions -
Has she tried to go broody lately?

 

[NanaLynn]

Mine is open.

Thanks everyone for answering. I wasn't sure if maybe I needed to cover the run or if I just needed more wood mulch. I believe my problem is that I need more wood mulch. I do have muddy areas in the run but I noticed that is where there is mostly just dirt.

Adding a truck load of wood mulch is a whole lot easier then trying to put a roof on the run.