The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[delisha]

All the videos posted recently are wonderful to check out. So very sorry about the loss in your family Leah's Mom. Thinking of you here too.

I took a short video of the barnyard pullet with what I think is TD.

She took some nudging to move. She will go about four or five steps and rest for ten minutes then move another few feet at a time. She is laying every day now without issue and can get food and water. At the end of the video, a little BRIR came running over. This is her new buddy. Ironic that the affected pullet used to beat up on the bantam without mercy and now the bantam is her companion. Chickens are fascinating creatures.

That is unusual for sure. I bet she is broody or pre broody and that is her signature and warning, before she goes or she is confused and does not quite know what to do. Those hormonal surge might be making her act odd. Some of my broody's do that when I take them off nests and try to break them. The refusal to move and walk correctly. The fact that it has been going on for a while might just be that hormone issues is still there. I am just guessing.

It also could be nerve damage in her spine that is healing slowly.

Quote:

This hints they may possibly be respectful enough in future to be left mixing with the flock. The worst cockerels never even think to feed a hen, just chase and insist on mating. A male who has enough instinct to understand his duty in the flock has a chance to improve on his treatment of hens, generally speaking. You weren't rambling, don't worry about that, situations need fully explaining in detail to be properly dealt with.


That's more of a multivit than a plain old electrolyte mix! I would worry about overdosing my chooks on something or another if I fed that in their water as well as administering a supposedly nutritionally complete diet.

For the longest time I was able to keep 3 roosters with 21 hens. There were a few fake fights and a bloody comb or two in the winter, but everyone got along for the most part. Then one of the roosters had a heart issue and passed. In a matter of days my remaining RIR rooster turned mean as all get out. Strangest thing. I would have thought he would be nicer since he would be able to mate more.

The vitamin statement made me laugh as just last night I was thinking my powder from the store smelled like ground up vitamins.

And for today's out of the blue question: Is there any real danger to a pregnant lady taking care of chickens and gathering eggs?
As far as i know all the woman for quite some time now that lived on farms, were in fact pregnant many times and still seemed to be able to gather eggs, take care of chickens, milk cows, and garden pretty safely. (congrats)

Quote:
You must be thinking of Nicki...

 

[delisha]

Mumsy,

I looked at that video a few more times and I am leaning to pain on the left side. I hope it resolves.

 

[Mumsy]

That is unusual for sure. I bet she is broody or pre broody and that is her signature and warning, before she goes or she is confused and does not quite know what to do. Those hormonal surge might be making her act odd. Some of my broody's do that when I take them off nests and try to break them. The refusal to move and walk correctly. The fact that it has been going on for a while might just be that hormone issues is still there. I am just guessing.

It also could be nerve damage in her spine that is healing slowly.
As far as i know all the woman for quite some time now that lived on farms, were in fact pregnant many times and still seemed to be able to gather eggs, take care of chickens, milk cows, and garden pretty safely. (congrats)

You must be thinking of Nicki...

She had laid one egg when this started. She is not using her feet to walk but you can see in the video that she is using her tip toes (claws) and does flap her wings to gain momentum and balance. Nerve damage in her spine is a possibility. Onset was that morning a week ago when she jumped down from the roost. My perches are natural branches and not far off the ground but she could have landed wrong.

@aoxa: I know right? The suggested utube after viewing a chicken? Are you kidding me?

 

[aoxa]

That is unusual for sure. I bet she is broody or pre broody and that is her signature and warning, before she goes or she is confused and does not quite know what to do. Those hormonal surge might be making her act odd. Some of my broody's do that when I take them off nests and try to break them. The refusal to move and walk correctly. The fact that it has been going on for a while might just be that hormone issues is still there. I am just guessing.

It also could be nerve damage in her spine that is healing slowly.
As far as i know all the woman for quite some time now that lived on farms, were in fact pregnant many times and still seemed to be able to gather eggs, take care of chickens, milk cows, and garden pretty safely. (congrats)

You must be thinking of Nicki...

Yes.. Oh Nicki.. that is not right.. lol

She had laid one egg when this started. She is not using her feet to walk but you can see in the video that she is using her tip toes (claws) and does flap her wings to gain momentum and balance. Nerve damage in her spine is a possibility. Onset was that morning a week ago when she jumped down from the roost. My perches are natural branches and not far off the ground but she could have landed wrong.

@aoxa: I know right? The suggested utube after viewing a chicken? Are you kidding me?

It's a good think you didn't link the video using the tool on here. I think that may have gotten it deleted

So inappropriate.

She doesn't seem to be in any obvious pain until she is forced to move. She really does look alert and healthy. I wonder what is going on...

Could she have pulled something in both legs, and if so, how long would it take to show improvement?

 

[midnightroo]

My green still has some heat in her leg.  I haven't decided if its because of the high temps we are having or the bumble foot. But the redness lessened when I finally got the biopsy punch to remove the core.  

Ok thanks. Has the swollen around decreased or does it keep it's shape?

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote: As far as i know all the woman for quite some time now that lived on farms, were in fact pregnant many times and still seemed to be able to gather eggs, take care of chickens, milk cows, and garden pretty safely. (congrats)



Thanks, but I don't know yet. Just the possibility got me thinking. It will be about a week to 10 days before I find out unless I get blood drawn.

 

[armorfirelady]

Quote: The swelling did go down some when I first lanced it but was swollen again when I couldnt do a bandage change for 4 days. Tuesday when I used the biopsy punch I was able to get more infection out and yesterday it was still swollen some. Today after work I am going to change the bandage again and see about getting some more infection out of the worse of the 2 feet. The one with the minor bumble foot is def not as swollen tho.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Duck growth compared to chickens. I have some PRIR chicks that are 3 weeks old and look great. They should end up being about 6 pounds. I also have 3 Khaki Campbell ducklings that are 2 weeks old. They are almost twice as big as my 3 week old chicks. The info I have about Khaki ducks is that they get to be between 4 and 5 pounds. Do the ducklings just mature a lot faster than the chickens? I got the duckling eggs off of ebay, the seller also sells giant perkin ducks but these are clearly brown and not a bit of white or orange.

 

[Mumsy]

Yes.. Oh Nicki.. that is not right.. lol
It's a good think you didn't link the video using the tool on here. I think that may have gotten it deleted

So inappropriate.

She doesn't seem to be in any obvious pain until she is forced to move. She really does look alert and healthy. I wonder what is going on...

Could she have pulled something in both legs, and if so, how long would it take to show improvement?

I didn't put any tags with this video. I wonder if I go back and add: Chicken, pullet, and poultry if that will change anything?


She limped for one day on the left foot. Holding it under her and sitting most of the day. I never saw her get on a roost again after that. She does seem to get up more now than those first few days. I'm hoping she will heal. She can grasp my finger with both feet but the left foot works less well. The injury may be to the left side of the spine maybe? It does seem to cause her pain to move but not enough to make her stop looking for food and water and laying her egg. Separating her from the flock seems to cause her the most stress. She does the 'squat' when I approach her even though she is already in a down position. Very odd. I don't have a cock with this laying flock. Before her affliction she was in the top rung of the pecking order. It is very interesting to me that she is hanging out with the Silkies and BRIR that are on the bottom of the order of things. But they don't peck on her at all.

 

[aoxa]

I didn't put any tags with this video. I wonder if I go back and add: Chicken, pullet, and poultry if that will change anything?


She limped for one day on the left foot. Holding it under her and sitting most of the day. I never saw her get on a roost again after that. She does seem to get up more now than those first few days. I'm hoping she will heal. She can grasp my finger with both feet but the left foot works less well. The injury may be to the left side of the spine maybe? It does seem to cause her pain to move but not enough to make her stop looking for food and water and laying her egg. Separating her from the flock seems to cause her the most stress. She does the 'squat' when I approach her even though she is already in a down position. Very odd. I don't have a cock with this laying flock. Before her affliction she was in the top rung of the pecking order. It is very interesting to me that she is hanging out with the Silkies and BRIR that are on the bottom of the order of things. But they don't peck on her at all.

She's not with Johnny?

Youtube has never properly recommended videos when I've posted them, and I tag.