The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Renee97038]

Can I use Organic coconut oil on my chickens legs? Or anyone use Vaseline? I have one older hen with sort of rough scales so I think I'll rub something on her shanks and toes.

 

[lazy gardener]

Any thing of an oil base should work. It suffocates the mites.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Coconut oil is wonderful because it also has anti-fungal properties.

There's also "some" evidence that it can act anti-bacterial/anti-viral but in a really lightweight way.

As far as suffocating the mites, you'd have to use it more frequently than some of the more viscous oils but it should work with no nasty side effects.

I, personally, stay away from petroleum jelly (vaseline) since it's a petroleum by-product.

 

[konachicks]

I ADORE coconut oil! We use it for so many things in my house! I even have always used as a diaper rash ointment on my baby! Fabulous stuff!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Along with a fast from grain feed, it's a great cure for sour crop also. No grains, clean water, coconut oil to eat a few days. Has worked for everyone I know who has tried it so far. (Could also add some Avi-Culture 2 to the water as well if you have some.)


@aoxa used it on one of her birds that got severe frost bite on her feet after accidentally stepping into a water dish a couple winters ago. It was the only thing she used and she swears by it.

 

[LindaB220]

I have and use Nustock on occasion but I avoid it unless there's nothing else that will work. Smell is strong and it hangs around for a long time...

But boy is it great for quick healing of skin issues.

I empty the tube out completely into a short, squat Pint canning jar. Then I can use a knife to stir it up and use the same knife to get some out of the container. (Not double dipping, of course.). Then I usually use a qtip to apply if it's a wound.

You can use any oil/grease on leg mites. The point is to suffocate the mites. The oil does that job then the scales will slough off and nice new ones will grow underneith. The oil needs to be heavy/thick enough to do the suffocation job.

VetRX is supposed to work pretty well on scaly leg mites. I haven't had leg mites here, but I think I'd start with that and apply it several times.

Beekissed uses Castor Oil I believe.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Anyone have an heritage blue palm turkey that they would be willing to sell me, even if shipping is a small fortune?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
Have to be careful w/castor as it can be poisonous if ingested in quantity ... and you know how the birds want to eat everything they can get their beaks on! Since chickens are so small, it may not take a whole lot to cause a potential overdoes.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

It would need to be desperate times for me to break out a bottle of castor oil. Personal experience, there just has to be something better out there for anything castor oil could be used for.

 

[armorfirelady]

I've uSed nustock On legs chicken legs before with no adverse effects. And coconut oil also but all my animals would rather eat it then let it soak in. When I fry up eggs for the hens I use coconut oil.

Hope everyone is getting ready for the holidays. I have been making up body scrub, soap and lotion bars for Christmas gifts. Today I'm going to try lip balm & candles.

I lost Sophie last week. I'm sure it was because she was internally laying. She was acting fine but it was hard to tell if she was puffed out or not since it was so cold lately. She was in the nearing box at night & the next morning dead. I didn't do a necropsy because of my work schedule. I sure hope one of my pullets lays a dark egg now.

Stella finally started laying again so I'm hopeful the 2 old girls start again soon. Edie is still at end of her molt. I still see pin feathers coming in. Hard to tell the new feathers from old ones since she is now grey instead of white from dust bathing in wood ash :/

Our weather here is going from low 20s to 40s. We still haven't had a hard frost to freeze the ground. So every time it warms up the snow melts and we have more mud. I'm guessing that's why the hens molted late. The wx may be throwing them off. But the extra meat & suet bars have seemed to help Edie molt faster. Or at least easier. The girls certainly don't mind the meat. And the ones molting are eating more now as well.

I'm off to go hang the cabbage I bought for them. The peepers love it. They are huge & ones comb and wattles have gotten red. I'm hoping she is close to laying.mbut for now they entertain themselves chasing each other around the yard