The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

Jime...It's hard to tell from the photos but it "appears to me" that she may have scaly leg mites.

I wouldn't pull scales off her feet and/or legs....just the wash it but not scraping on the scales.



If it IS leg mites, this is what I would do.....(and this is just me so take the advise that way....)

Soak and wash - which you already did.

Get one of the following items:

-Vet RX (can get it at the local farm store usually)
or
-Nustock (Probably need to order this online...hard to find in local stores)
or
-Coconut oil (this would have to be applied several times a day, however) or a heavier oil like olive oil


Apply the VetRX or Nustock to the legs and feet daily for about a week. You can give a little soak/wash between to get off anything that has stuck to the oily legs (dirt, shavings, etc.)

Usually with the VetRX or the Nustock it will clear itself. The scales will eventually slough off and new, healthy scales will come in. If you feel that you need to "scrub" a bit, you can use a toothbrush gently rather than scraping or cutting at the scales. The oil will kill the mites by suffocation and the old scales will soften up with the oil application.

After a week I'd reevaluate and decide it you want to continue to apply the VetRX or Nustock longer or if it is needed.

 

[jime]

Thanks Leahs Mom:
Di I make it worst taking the gross thing out?

I do have all this etchings with me, now the Nustock (how will it go with the feathers) should I cut feather out will will lead to bleeding as well? or just deal with all the messy feather wood shavings.
Maybe the Vet RX will be less messy.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I don't have experience with feather legs so you will have to decide how you want to handle that.

If you decide to clip the feathers back. just clip the back some but don't pull them out.

I imagine it would be much easier to work with if they are clipped but, again, I haven't worked with feather legged birds before. Maybe someone that has had experience with the feather leg breeds will have something to say on that.

On Nustock vs VetRX.... yes, I'd say that VetRX IS less messy. The VetRX is a blend of oils and is an oil consistency. You know what the NuStock is like if you have it....thick and STINKY! But NuStock will work great for suffocating those critters if they are there and will also help with healing.

Of the 2 items, the VetRX would be considered the more "natural".... The NuStock is great at suffocation!

 

[Shan30]

I've used nustock on feathered legs before without trimming and while it was a pain, it worked just fine. I see no harm in trimming the feathers either though. It would definitely make application easier. The nustock dries into all the crevices on their legs and does a great job. Have never used vet-rx so can't comment.

On the winter lighting/egg laying. I've done both, definitely got more eggs with light through the winter. They also consumed more feed. I see no problem with either route. Keep in mind that each hen only has so many eggs to lay in her life and laying year round will make her lay for a shorter span of her life.

Oh and I live in Canada and my girls lay through the winter with no light! Less eggs of course.

 

[armorfirelady]

I have been using extra light in my coop, but now I'm re-thinking it. If I decide to turn off the light, should I take it out gradually, or just go cold turkey (so to speak)?

That I do not know since I have never used light before.

Quote: I usually have lots of leftover snow if you change your mind

And yes I was just sharing what I do with my hens. I forgot to add that both ends of my coops are covered with heavy duty clear plastic so their coop is always light inside. Once the snow falls it will probably be brighter inside when it reflects inside.

If I had enough I think it would be retty cool to cover the whole coop with it so it stayed bright in there lol

I don't have experience with feather legs so you will have to decide how you want to handle that.

If you decide to clip the feathers back. just clip the back some but don't pull them out.

I imagine it would be much easier to work with if they are clipped but, again, I haven't worked with feather legged birds before. Maybe someone that has had experience with the feather leg breeds will have something to say on that.

On Nustock vs VetRX.... yes, I'd say that VetRX IS less messy. The VetRX is a blend of oils and is an oil consistency. You know what the NuStock is like if you have it....thick and STINKY! But NuStock will work great for suffocating those critters if they are there and will also help with healing.

Of the 2 items, the VetRX would be considered the more "natural".... The NuStock is great at suffocation!

I have feather legged hens and you can trim the feathers if need be or just put the cream on over the feathers.

 

[vpatt]

Does the clear plastic cause more heat in hot weather or is it something you remove in the summer?

 

[RedRidge]

Does the clear plastic cause more heat in hot weather or is it something you remove in the summer?

I totally remove mine on the summer but more importantly I roll it up EVERY morning in the winter. It is only down at night. This prevents high humidity and makes sure you have plenty of ventilation.

 

[Lacy Blues]

I totally remove mine on the summer but more importantly I roll it up EVERY morning in the winter. It is only down at night. This prevents high humidity and makes sure you have plenty of ventilation.

Do you get a lot of wind? I'm wondering if you have to secure it down at night? We get a lot of wind and I have some of the really thick, clear vinyl but I haven't put it on the coop yet. I know I need to get it on there soon but I guess I'm just wondering about how to fasten it down in case the wind starts blowing.

 

[RedRidge]

I totally remove mine on the summer but more importantly I roll it up EVERY morning in the winter. It is only down at night. This prevents high humidity and makes sure you have plenty of ventilation.

Do you get a lot of wind?  I'm wondering if you have to secure it down at night?  We get a lot of wind and I have some of the really thick, clear vinyl but I haven't put it on the coop yet.  I know I need to get it on there soon but I guess I'm just wondering about how to fasten it down in case the wind starts blowing.

Velcro... works great. We have it on all for edges and just roll it up once the sun starts to come up.

And when we have snow I leave the vinyl down on the lower half and roll it up on the top half.

 

[Lacy Blues]

thanks redridge