The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[YardBirdMom]

yardbird mom yeah I watch closely as they don't have older ones that are used to it free ranging, but they are learning and only time I have to really watch is if there is a change now nice to have even the week olds out there. I will have to get a picture and show you the brooder box that my friend did makes like so much easier and when the one raising them wants out we let her out stress free cause can lower the door so the chicks can get out or back in on their own.

I would love to see the brooder box. Best I have is the water trough, but it works and is easy to clean. However, they can't see out & for outside time I have to physically put them into an iron goat cage used to haul in the back of a truck. It works, but I'm always up for new ideas

 

[slordaz]

What she did is made a oblong box then used 3 grill type squares and nailed some screen to a board that we can put up and down as needed.we didn't put light in it though as the other chick raising them is feathered out and next one to brood in there will be a hen. Really easy to clean out as those squares are not screwed in so can adjust them or move them as needed. I will get a picture of it today while I am out there and post when i get home.

we will have to figure out something else for that duplex feeder she's done , that didn't work to well when the ones that can fly would get on the upper one but made feeding easier with birds of different sizes and her meat birds in there, once we get that figured out that will not fall apart will post a picture of that too.

 

[Lacy Blues]

Can you block off the upper portion and/or put a really steep slippery (tin) roof on it? They would learn quickly that its a waste of energy.

 

[potagergirl]

I have a concern I am not sure how to address or if I should.......

Background: my MIL had some very old chickens and for the past two years has not had time to take care of them. They have scaly leg severely along with who knows what all.. Anyway we chose to take the chickens to live out the remainder of their days free ranging on our farm.

Last night we went to get the 18 birds. I decided to start with vegetable oil on the legs then lathered each one with Vaseline. Some of them have legs worse then this:

This morning I went to check on them and everyone looked good, no worse for wear over the move. I had also put probioctics in the drinking water along with electrolytes to help reduce the stress of the move. We are still concerned we might lose a couple just because they are so old.

Anyway, this afternoon I was out looking over the birds and I noticed 3 of them with the worst scaly leg had chunks that they pecked off or fell off not sure which. In place is very brunt red soft looking scales.
My concern is these new areas might become infected if they aren't infected already???
I'm not sure if I should look into doing something else, I really don't want to use antibiotics or add anything else until I have their systems built up and healthier with the vitamins, minerals, and protein.

We plan on rubbing the legs down every 3 days, but I will be using coconut oil instead of the vegetable oil and vaseline. I only used those the first time to make sure I got a good suffocation of the mites with them being so thick.
Also I am thinking it will take about a month before I stop rubbing their legs, does this sound right for scaly mites this bad or should I plan on doing it longer then a month?

thank you for any thoughts, help, or ideas you might have.

 

[slordaz]

Lacey blues thanks for a great idea, the idea we had was good just couldn't keep em off the top lol, that way the younger ones and stupid meat birds can eat and not bug the older ones lol.

Potagergirl, I am not really sure what else you could do for these birds, it's a wonder they are even walking. If you slice some garlic into the oil but takes 3-5 days to infuse the longer it goes stronger it is, maybe some mint tea used as a wash, I would definitely be applying the spray to the legs, vetrymiacin or something like that or like neosporin to prevent further infection

 

[lalaland]

I have a concern I am not sure how to address or if I should.......

Background: my MIL had some very old chickens and for the past two years has not had time to take care of them. They have scaly leg severely along with who knows what all.. Anyway we chose to take the chickens to live out the remainder of their days free ranging on our farm.

Last night we went to get the 18 birds. I decided to start with vegetable oil on the legs then lathered each one with Vaseline. Some of them have legs worse then this:

This morning I went to check on them and everyone looked good, no worse for wear over the move. I had also put probioctics in the drinking water along with electrolytes to help reduce the stress of the move. We are still concerned we might lose a couple just because they are so old.

Anyway, this afternoon I was out looking over the birds and I noticed 3 of them with the worst scaly leg had chunks that they pecked off or fell off not sure which. In place is very brunt red soft looking scales.
My concern is these new areas might become infected if they aren't infected already???
I'm not sure if I should look into doing something else, I really don't want to use antibiotics or add anything else until I have their systems built up and healthier with the vitamins, minerals, and protein.

We plan on rubbing the legs down every 3 days, but I will be using coconut oil instead of the vegetable oil and vaseline. I only used those the first time to make sure I got a good suffocation of the mites with them being so thick.
Also I am thinking it will take about a month before I stop rubbing their legs, does this sound right for scaly mites this bad or should I plan on doing it longer then a month?

thank you for any thoughts, help, or ideas you might have.

This is totally expected. The tender red part is vulnerable but will toughen up. It is like new skin!

Not sure if you will need an entire month or not...just see how it goes. I have found that periodically I need to lube up the legs - as the mites seem to rear their ugly heads every year or so. I keep an eye out on the legs and if I see anything, I do the lube a couple of times in a week, and thats all that has been needed.

The mites in the broken off pieces seem to be able to infect other birds. Not sure if you are quarantining, if not be sure you treat your current flock preventatively with the oil.

 

[potagergirl]

Potagergirl, I am not really sure what else you could do for these birds, it's a wonder they are even walking. If you slice some garlic into the oil but takes 3-5 days to infuse the longer it goes stronger it is, maybe some mint tea used as a wash, I would definitely be applying the spray to the legs, vetrymiacin or something like that or like neosporin to prevent further infection

Can I put the neosporin on daily without it causing problems/interfering with the Vaseline i've already put on and the coconut oil I plan on putting on every three days? If so is it something I can apply every night? I am sure I am over thinking this but still in the frame of trying to do everything I can for them. I do have garlic in their water will making a garlic oil out of the coconut oil be beneficial to them or will it be too much? I don't want to over medicate is why I think I'm over thinking this.

They are walking around but I think it is from being used to the scaly legs. They even lay eggs which is a big surprise to me as old and ill as they are.

 

[slordaz]

you would want neosporin or the vetrycin on before the vaseline as it will cause a barrier, don't want to get an infection that goes systematic septic, I usually do garlic in olive oil which can be bought cheaper at the dollar store, but with my dogs have never had an issue adding some to their water and using it externally too, but then again they are used to getting garlic in their food, as works great for keeping fleas and ticks, ear mites off of them.

you can put the garlic infused oil in a sprayer to if that makes it easier on you which it usually does, they don't tend to hold still any better than my dogs to have it applied

the mint tea wash is good too for it's antiseptic, peppermint oil works really well for pain and helps dry stuff up.

I know it's got to be stressful for you as they are in such bad shape when you got them but keeping it clean and working on getting them cleared up is top priority.

sorry coffee wore off so had to edit for typonese

 

[potagergirl]

thank you for answering.
It is top priority and trying to figure out what steps to take in an order that will help the chickens has probably been the most difficult. Then looking at the choice of Ivomec over trying non-medicated routes has also played a role. I don't want them to suffer any more then they have and I haven't owned chickens very long only a year. Taking these on I figured it would be a benefit to them and a learning curve for me. Wow it's a learning curve for sure. I have chosen not to use Ivomec because I am worried as old as the chickens are they might not survive something that strong. We are doing everything we can not to resort to heavy harsh doses of antibiotics/meds. I don't mind using neosporin or something external/lightly to prevent infections etc... but I really think the birds are better off without the heavy stuff.

priority 1. remove them from old home where they were being eaten upon by rats. (did this when we moved them to our property into their own chicken house away from my other birds)
2. scaly leg mites. (did this one at a time before putting into carrier to bring them to new chicken house)
3. nutrition, nutrition, nutrition (electrolytes and probiotics in water with a mineral pack)
4. worms. (I'm hoping with the improved nutrition it will help take care of the worms they have) if not I will work on it.
5. trim care ( 2 roosters have spurs that are curved and have to be at least 2 and a 1/2 inches long) Not sure how to take care of this yet but I will have some idea by the time I get that far should they live.

I'm thinking these 5 things will be a good start for the first two weeks making sure we spread them out over three day increments so we are not over stressing the birds all at once. I am still doing reading on the vetericyn spray. I'm not sure if it will be too strong for them. I don't want anything that might impede with their nutritional uptake if that makes sense. lol like I said I believe I am over thinking this.

 

[lalaland]

I would definitely avoid garlic on their legs - love garlic but it will cause a burning sensation - its too strong on that tender red stuff. Honestly, I have had that new red/pink stuff showing when scaley stuff fell off a hen - the redness/newness went away fairly quickly and there was no infection. Even areas that got a little tear were fine.

However, garlic in their food - or free choice chopped fresh garlic - would be a good booster for them.

neosporin wouldn't hurt on their legs, I think, but also think it is unnecessary.

You have a good plan.

there are some good you tube videos of rooster spur removal. I have a hen who has spurs that grow into her foot (curl down) and one that aims directly at her other leg. I have to keep them both trimmed. Easiest thing I have found is garden pruners - the heavy duty ones with short blades. Start at the tip, and kind of chip away at it. The quick comes a heck of a lot faster than you think or can see easily, so a little teeny bit at a time and then wait to see if blood appears. It takes a bit of time for the blood to get to the tip. flour works for a coagulent, but you could plan ahead and have quickstop or whatever handy.