The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[aoxa]

Rooster Limping!

How am I supposed to catch a teenage cockerel (20 wk) during the day to check his foot? (Or dare I wait until dark?)

Cletus was limping last week. I suspect he may have just pulled something and was tender. He is fine this week. I checked his feet. No bumblefoot.

Check at bedtime.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Just caught him briefly. Nothing visible on the foot...must be a sprain/ligiment issue.

He won't put any weight on the leg now. I could only hold onto him briefly as he was putting up a fight. I hope I didn't hurt him more!

Do you think I should isolate him in a small area so he's not trying to get on the roost, etc?

I'm a little concerned after reading about all the issues with slipped tendons, etc. If it is that, what can be done?

 

[aoxa]

Just caught him briefly. Nothing visible on the foot...must be a sprain/ligiment issue.

He won't put any weight on the leg now. I could only hold onto him briefly as he was putting up a fight. I hope I didn't hurt him more!

Do you think I should isolate him in a small area so he's not trying to get on the roost, etc?

I'm a little concerned after reading about all the issues with slipped tendons, etc. If it is that, what can be done?

With how many I free ranged, I had a few boys wind up injuring their legs one time or another. All but one ever resolved. One had staph, but no obvious bumblefoot at all. His leg was really swollen and we culled. If I had to count I'd say we had 4 boys like this (wait no 5).. They all resolved (but that one) within a few days.

I think with the fights my boys had to determine rank, and their shenanigans (jumping on everything, and everything...) they would get sprains and heal. The biggest issue with roosts now would be him jumping from a real distance with no cushion.

I think right now unless there is more to it than you are letting on, this is nothing that would concern me.

Oh and it was only ever the boys that had this issue.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:

 

[Leahs Mom]

Flea Free...can we get it in the states?

Looks like if we put some garlic, acv, and maybe a few other goodies in the feed it might help...

 

[aoxa]

Flea Free...can we get it in the states?

Looks like if we put some garlic, acv, and maybe a few other goodies in the feed it might help...

I'm sure you can get something very similar.

I posted because the ingredients in it are something you guys can all provide yourself

It works great with my dogs. I never had an issue with the chickens and ticks (other than them eating them). If I did, I would test it out.

I have recently started adding garlic to the chick's FF. I'd like to note that they seem to prefer it better with garlic. What's up with that?

 

[Leahs Mom]

I don't know, but I like the smell of garlic and oregano in the feed. I like what it smells like when I go into the hen house.

I only put it in every once in awhile - I dip out the ff then use a garlic press to press 3-4 cloves right into the feed bucket and stir it in.

I got a lb. of dried, Frontier oregano (organic, not irradiated... note that most herbs/spices are irradiated unless organic or clearly stated "non-irradiated" on the label) I stir some of that into the direct feed bucket too from time to time.


Oh...in other "irradiated" news.... did y'all know that almost all eggs for sale in the grocery are irradiated? It's hard to get eggs that aren't. (It's in the name of "pasteurizing for health")

 

[Kassaundra]

I'm sure you can get something very similar.

I posted because the ingredients in it are something you guys can all provide yourself

It works great with my dogs. I never had an issue with the chickens and ticks (other than them eating them). If I did, I would test it out.

I have recently started adding garlic to the chick's FF. I'd like to note that they seem to prefer it better with garlic. What's up with that?

Everything is better w/ garlic.

 

[aoxa]

I don't know, but I like the smell of garlic and oregano in the feed. I like what it smells like when I go into the hen house.

I only put it in every once in awhile - I dip out the ff then use a garlic press to press 3-4 cloves right into the feed bucket and stir it in.

I got a lb. of dried, Frontier oregano (organic, not irradiated... note that most herbs/spices are irradiated unless organic or clearly stated "non-irradiated" on the label) I stir some of that into the direct feed bucket too from time to time.


Oh...in other "irradiated" news.... did y'all know that almost all eggs for sale in the grocery are irradiated? It's hard to get eggs that aren't. (It's in the name of "pasteurizing for health")

I could not find organic Oregano, so I used Organic "Italian Herbs" It has basil, Oregano, Thyme, Sage & Dill. I added a lot of that and 3 cloves of organic garlic (bowl is small) and the smell is very strong. Can't OD on garlic though!

Everything is better w/ garlic.

Yes it is! We LOVE the garlic here. We go through a lot of it.

 

[Leahs Mom]

So, Aoxa, shouldn't all that garlic and oregano help ward off the fleas and ticks - sounds alot like what's in the natural remedy.

I ended up going to one of the little local "natural food" type shops that sells Frontier spices and herbs. I asked them if I could just get the whole bag...they order extra for me if they don't have one in. It cost me $11 when I got it. Might be more now.