The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[NanaLynn]

LynnEBC, I would worry also about a brain injury with having the one eye closed, but I would think maybe a leg would be weak on the same side. With a tongue control issue I might be concerned about her choking on food. Maybe wetting some food to make it easier?

Yeah, that makes sense, she is walking around fine and her legs look equally good. She is not choking when I feed her and seems to be gaining more tongue control. I have been giving her wet, dry and anything to try to get her to eat.

Lynn, I don't think stroke since she would have involvement w/ the wing (droop) and weak or paralized leg. Humans have cranial nerves in the head and neck area that govern things like eye lid movement, eyeball movement, tongue movement, shoulder movement, blood pressure, facial symmetry. I do not know chicken anatomy well enough to know if they have these same or similar nerves, but suspect so. If one or more of those nerves are damaged or bruised, or swollen around that could explain the s/sx. If it is just swollen around the nerves or bruised in the nerves they should recover, but if the nerves have been actually damaged it could be permenant (if that is what it is, just guessing here)

I am thinking along these lines too. Possibly she flew or ran into something and maybe was even knocked out for awhile. All of everyone'e ideas have helped me kind of figure out or guess what is possibly wrong with her. She was laying at the back of the outside of the coop near some of the other dead ones. We thought that she was dead when we found her, but when we picked her up she started moving.

Maybe it is just the moment you snapped the pic, but to me she appears not to be bearing equal weight on both feet. The left foot isn't really down on the perch or gripping. This would support the theory of a brain injury affecting both the eye and the foot/leg, and also probably the tongue. If she seems to be improving, it could be swelling that is going down, or a bleed that stopped and blood is being reabsorbed, reducing pressure.

I am so sorry you lost Google, and have fingers crossed Oreo and Big Mama recover. Regardless, you are doing all you can by supporting and encouraging them. You are a good chicken Mama.

I think it is just the picture and also the curve of the branch that she is on. I think you are right whatever swelling or bruising is going down or getting better. When I went to feed her this morning the eye that was totally shut was even just slightly open. She also was really pecking a lot at the food and I think she got tidbits of the wet food in her on her own. I fed her more wet food by forcing it in the side of her mouth and she did swallow the little I was getting in. Maybe it was another noise, but I could have sworn that I heard her stomach growl, does anyone know if that is possible?

Lynne - There is hope for your BO. Like others said it could be swelling and that can take some time. She could have a scratch on her cornea and keeping the lid closed keeps it clean and will provide a natural wash for the eye. You giving her TLC is what she needs.

We acquired a hen that has only one eye. We were told by her original owner that her eye was pecked out when she was a chick. Her original owner did not have the heart to cull her. We named her Precious. Early this spring she scratched it and caused it to bleed badly and we moved her to separate pen to protect her from pecking. She was not happy because she could not be in the spot in the roost that she takes each time she is in the coop. After keeping her separate overnight and the bleeding stopped we put her back in with the other hens which perked her up. I hand feed her a little and she finally felt good enough to go out in their large pen. Because she can only see from one side, she is very cautious when eating because of others running up to her bad side to snatch treats or food. Now she comes up to us during feeding time and after feeding the larger group (away from her) she patiently waits for us to give her a pile of food or treats of her own. Smart and spoiled.

That's good to hear, it is always nice to hear stories of people who had chickens recover from serious injuries.

Lynn, sorry to hear about Google.

Chickens try not to show illness - and will go through the motions . I've had ill hens act like they were eating, but if you watch close you see they are just pecking and not eating. It is a survival thing - can't appear weak. I have no idea about the tongue, I don't know if I have ever seen a chicken use a tongue!

Recovery might take a couple of weeks or more.. As long as she is eating and drinking (with your help) you can decide if she is making progress - but it may take some time. What ever you decide will be the right thing.

I think it is more then just the motions, she seems to be really trying to eat. Just her coordination is off. She does seem to be using her tongue when I feed her the wet food and she is swallowing.

So sorry about Google! Thanks for sharing all the photos and info on your girls - hope the others continue to get better!!
P.S. I have a little California White named Daisy!!

Thanks. Things are getting more back to normal with the healthy chickens, poor little Daisy is being picked on again by the big ones. There's lots of space now on the top roosts, but she is staying up there. She'll get them back when she gets bigger since White Rocks get pretty big. She's one strong little chick with some spunk.

Thanks, yeah my daughter and I were talking one day and we came up with it. Our little 8 week BA that we lost too was named, Yahoo. She also wants us to use "Bing" in the future.

Thanks everyone again. Here's pics of Big Mama and Oreo this morning. We have since moved Oreo to a big dog crate. I had to cover her with a basket to protect. Even with the Nu Stock the others were pecking at her back, they'd shake their heads after but still did it. She wanted to roost last night and flapped her wings and moved around and seemed very frustrated, which I take as a really good sign. I slathered her up again with Nu Stock this morning. She only ate a little after I did that. She was pretty mad at me. I'm going to offer her some scrambled eggs and she how she does.





Here is Big Mama's good side. She is not happy with me, I keep pushing her around to get her out to the food and water. Plus, I held her and made her eat some wet food this morning. She does have her strength, she was not easy to hold.
I know from my own experience with 3 children delivered by C sections that it is better to get up and move soon after and keep moving. I hated a few nurses for awhile because it hurt like h***, but I did heal a lot faster.

 

[aoxa]

Thank you so much, Aoxa! I value your opinion and advice.

I'm glad to help

We were 115 today, which is about as hot as we have ever gotten in my lifetime, tho I don't know off the top of my head the altime record for us. I have been wetting down pens, even spraying the chickens, tho it freaks them out a little. I fill up all the dusting holes with water and they come and drink it and stand in it. So far so good. I understand we will have heat like this most of the week, so I have some containers in the freezer; will deliver up an ice block to the dusting holes when it starts to warm up tomorrow.

At my elevation it is usually much cooler as soon as the sun goes down, but it was still 100 at 7 pm. The thing is today is the first day that egg production has been half of the norm, but it's also been the hottest day so far.

Would HATE that heat!

I made a mistake last night about temps - didn't check the weather. It was pretty chilly this morning, 52 degrees - and when I went into the coop the 5 week old chicks were all hunched up and miserable. At first I thought they were all sick, but realized it was too cold. I put the heat lamp on, which hasn't been on for a few weeks, and they immediately all crowded under it. 15 minutes later, they were still jockeying for place under it, so I lowered it - and all 17 huddled under it. After maybe 10 minutes, you could see their bodies relax and they started mass preening - followed by mass napping.

I think they just got chilled during the night, even though most of them are pretty feathered out.

Also, after yesterday's two chases to get them into a box and out to the run, and then back for the night, they are all very very skittish around me. slightest move and they panic. I think it is because their pen is so big, it isn't easy to gently corner the ones who are standoffish. Even the ones who are usually climbing all over me stayed their distance this morning.

I know it was good for them to be outside yesterday but I don't know if I will repeat it. The only thing I can think of is jury-rigging a covered walkway 15 feet and down a 4 foot drop to their outdoor pen. WOuld take me most of the day to do that. but.. if i could, I'ld be set for the next 8-15 weeks til they can go with the big girls.

I don't think you made a mistake. It was down in the 50s and I took away the 4 week old chicks heat source on Thursday. They huddle, but they can keep one another warm. I needed the heat source for new chicks.

My 6 week olds still huddle at night or when they sleep.

It's tough moving them around to a pen that is not connected! I feel for you! I did it daily for the silkies that are now free ranging (thank god!)

 

[NanaKat]

The chicks went outside today for the first time ever!  

After my complaining this morning, the sun actually came out and I corralled all the chicks - they were screaming and so upset  even though I did my best not to freak them out.  Catching them was difficult. A few paniced so much they did the shock thing - not moving and panting - when I opened up the carrier inside the outdoor pen.  I had to take them out but most came out on their own. 

Getting them back in at night was a repeat except this time they were hysterically trying to go through the netting to avoid getting caught.   Next time I might wait til dark!

I sure wish I had a set up where letting them out meant simply opening the door - but to keep them separate from the hens I have to take them out.  

The hens spent a lot of time at the pen watching the littles.  No sign of agression yet.

Could you use a piece of wire or fencing to herd the tots to the carrier like a funnel instead of trying to catch each one? When I'm training the juveniles to go to roost when out free ranging, I use one of those eight sided portable dog pens and set it up from the gate out along the pen wall and simple herd them into that funnel with a 4 foot long piece of 1/2 inch PVC pipe. Once they are inside the funnel, I can close it behind me and herd them thru the gate. Only takes a week to get them trained. Also I call them up with a handful of scratch and reward them when everybody is in the run to the coop.

You might be able to corner them inside your coop area to catch them in the morning with a length of wire fencing...and the same in the evening. PVC pipe threaded into each end can be stuck into the ground to anchor one end and then walk the other end around to trap them.

 

[BrownEggsnHam]

I use garlic, cayenne peppers, cukes, zukes and pumpkins a a deformer. I don't give it on a schedule or anything. Just add it when I remember, I believe, prevention is easier then trying to cure and so far no worms, mites or lice in my flock.
Wood ash is a natural lice & mite preventive. I chose not to use de since its a chemical.

A little additional input so that new people aren't mislead with erroneous information.... Wood ash is a chemical compound, typically including primarily calcium carbonate or calcium oxide, and various other trace chemicals (dependent on the type of wood) and oftentimes iron oxide (at times up to 12%). Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a natural occurring chemical compound consisting primarily of silica (80-90%), alumina ( 2-4% -largely from clay minerals) and iron oxide (0.5-2%). Diatomaceous earth gets its name from the fossilized remains of diatoms (the silica aspect), a type of hard shelled algae.

---rick

 

[pickitfarm]

A little additional input so that new people aren't mislead with erroneous information.... Wood ash is a chemical compound, typically including primarily calcium carbonate or calcium oxide, and various other trace chemicals (dependent on the type of wood) and oftentimes iron oxide (at times up to 12%). Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a natural occurring chemical compound consisting primarily of silica (80-90%), alumina ( 2-4% -largely from clay minerals) and iron oxide (0.5-2%). Diatomaceous earth gets its name from the fossilized remains of diatoms (the silica aspect), a type of hard shelled algae.

---rick

I thought when using DE you are to use food grade. After reading on BYC, we have decided to not use it because it can be harmful to honey bees and other good insects. Since we have our first hive this year on our farm and want to add more in the near future, we are going to use the wood ash as some have suggested.

 

[pickitfarm]

With all of this rain we have been getting we are seeing some rot on our green tomatoes. Would it be okay to feed these to chickens? They love ripe tomatoes when they get them.

 

[delisha]

With all of this rain we have been getting we are seeing some rot on our green tomatoes. Would it be okay to feed these to chickens? They love ripe tomatoes when they get them.

I toss all the rotten veggies to the chickens or put it on the compost pile..they eat what they want.

 

[Bulldogma]

Lynn - sorry about Google!

I know it was good for them to be outside yesterday but I don't know if I will repeat it. The only thing I can think of is jury-rigging a covered walkway 15 feet and down a 4 foot drop to their outdoor pen. WOuld take me most of the day to do that. but.. if i could, I'ld be set for the next 8-15 weeks til they can go with the big girls.

What about a "chunnel" or chicken tunnel like THIS one? It's a simple enough idea - just pieces of fencing rolled and ziptied together.

 

[armorfirelady]

I have a question for those familiar with bumble foot. I've been watching Greens feet. She has had a black mark on the bottoms of both. They are not hard when palpating them. They have not grown in size. Today when doing a hen check I found this

The top layer peeled back like a soft scab. I cleaned it with a baby wipe then I sprayed some blue kote on it & let it dry. It did not seem painful to her at all.

This is what's on her other foot

(Sorry for bad pic was trying to hold her & take a pic). This black spot is small in size soft and doesn't seem to cause her pain. I just left it be.

I thought I had read the bumble foot would have a hard core? Her foot pad is soft like normal feet. Not red either.

They roost on 2x4s and always have. Everyone else's feet are fine. No rough spots on the roosts. The only thing she may have cut her foot on if its a wound is chicken wire around the perimeter. The grass growing up legged some edges and left sharp edge or 2. I fixed that problem last week.
*** edited to add- in the pics her feet look red/pink. In real life they are pink but no warmth to touch.


And completely unrelated but those of you that have BRs do they make a honking sound? Stella honks,when she talks. It reminds me of a sound a goose makes

 

[Kassaundra]

I have soaked in warm Epsom salts water softening and removing the scab, the make a paste of iodine and sugar secure in place w/ bandaid then secure the band aid w/ duct tape, leave in place of a couple of days and repeat. It is what finally cleared my girls bumble foot, and that is definitely bumble foot.





Before that I had tried the surgery, expressing the white crap, Epsom salts soak, triple antibiotic ointment never made any headway on it until the sugar / iodine paste.