The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[EastNashChick]

T

I use a bucket if I need to deal with a foot injury. It's way easier to keep them in there. And yes, you'll need to hold him in there. I actually put a towel over the bucket to keep them in. If they calm down, I'll pull back part of the towel to let their head out, but you have to be right there holding it down tight or they will try to get out.

But if you're dealing with leg scale mites, you need to put something that is oil based on the legs to smother the mites and their eggs after you scrub the legs. Some put on the oil-based item without scrubbing. Some put it on before to soften up the scales, then into the soak and scrub with something like a toothbrush to loosen up the scales and gunk, then re-apply the oil based item afterwards. Main think is to suffocate the mites and kill the eggs. Here are some things that seem to work: NuStock (stinks) Vet RX (You can get this at most farm supply stores in the chicken department)

Some folks use vaseline. (I don't like using petroleum products personally) Even a heavy cooking oil could work.

That photo is hilarious! Great for illustration though!

 

[Leahs Mom]

It definitely puts getting a "bucket of chicken" for dinner in a different light

 

[Sally8]

Awwwwww. I'm so sorry about Edie. I still have "Edie's Sister" and she has the quirkiest personality. I haven't been on this thread in months and this was the first post I read.

 

[flagirl]

Bear season here in south central florida again. My dog treed mama and 3 cubs as they were headed over to chicken coop last nite. I did not realize and walked within 10 feet of tree while going to coop to lock up for the nite. the bear huffed and certainly scared me! hopefully the dog scared her enough that she will not come back

 

[armorfirelady]

Sorry to hear about Edie. It's always one that is favored in someway, or so it seems. I hope you didn't have BOTH wings clipped....If both are, that gives them substantial more lift than if only one is clipped.

Again...sorry.

Actually I did clip BOTH wings. I never knew that would give them more lift. Huh.........next year I will only do one.
Thanks !!

Awwwwww. I'm so sorry about Edie. I still have "Edie's Sister" and she has the quirkiest personality. I haven't been on this thread in months and this was the first post I read.

Thank you. I certainly miss her. She is the ones I always looked for. I still look for her when I feed the hens. I know nature happens but she was a great hen. Stella is missing her roost mate. She is the only one left when I got that batch of girls. (before the eggs last year)

 

[lalaland]

AFL, I'm so sorry to hear about Edie...always hard.

 

[SherrieC]

Bear season here in south central florida again. My dog treed mama and 3 cubs as they were headed over to chicken coop last nite. I did not realize and walked within 10 feet of tree while going to coop to lock up for the nite. the bear huffed and certainly scared me! hopefully the dog scared her enough that she will not come back

Bugger that, glad I live in Australia

 

[hellbender]

Bugger that, glad I live in Australia

 

[SherrieC]

Looks like I have a broody wyandotte, for the last week shes been noticeably temperamental, the neck feathers stand up whenever she doesn't like something and now since yesterday she has been on the nest. So now I am trying to decide whether to purchase fertillised eggs etc Spring starts here on the 1st of September so its the perfect time to have a broody though I have never done it before!

Do people here let the mum raise the chicks among the flock?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I always leave them in the flock, I do put them in a wire ring for the first week or two until I am sure they can all keep up and run from trouble. I have had some roosters help with the raising.