The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

Quote: I want to talk about the glands a bit more. I have a question from your description.

It sounds from your description that what you are referring to would be like skin pores on people (rather than glands?) Like I think of a nose...covered with pores that you can often see. Or like a blackhead...it is dirt clogging a pore in the skin.

Is that what we're talking about?
no..we are talking glands..thousands and thousands of glands on the bottom of human feet.
I am guessing at the number for chickens..

PS

I just looked it up and humans have over 250,000 glands on the bottom of feet.
Wow! I didn't know that. Now I have to go read about that too

Do you have any links?

 

[delisha]

Quote: I want to talk about the glands a bit more. I have a question from your description.

It sounds from your description that what you are referring to would be like skin pores on people (rather than glands?) Like I think of a nose...covered with pores that you can often see. Or like a blackhead...it is dirt clogging a pore in the skin.

Is that what we're talking about?
no..we are talking glands..thousands and thousands of glands on the bottom of human feet.
I am guessing at the number for chickens..

PS

I just looked it up and humans have over 250,000 glands on the bottom of feet.
Wow! I didn't know that. Now I have to go read about that too

Do you have any links?
http://www.answers.com/topic/foot-gland

http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/projects/poultry/Syllabus/page37_44.htm

 

[Leahs Mom]

Thanks!

I also found this: http://www.poultryhub.org/physiology/body-systems/integumentary-surface-of-the-bird/

But nothing specific about sweat glands in their feet. It would make sense based on the way that the foot and armpit glands in people work, that if there are glands in chicken feet they could get infected in the same way. Very interesting.

 

[delisha]

Thanks!

I also found this: http://www.poultryhub.org/physiology/body-systems/integumentary-surface-of-the-bird/

But nothing specific about sweat glands in their feet. It would make sense based on the way that the foot and armpit glands in people work, that if there are glands in chicken feet they could get infected in the same way. Very interesting.

chickens do not have sweat glands
I do not know what they have..it might be hormonal glands like dogs and cats have for marking. Most animals that scratch are marking territory and showing alpha tendency's.

 

[uglychickens]

chickens do not have sweat glands
I do no know what they have..it might be hormonal glands like dogs and cats have for marking. Most animals that scratch are marking territory and showing alpha tendency's.

I wonder if that gland is how they sense vibration?

 

[delisha]

Quote: Might be..

 

[mlowen]

First Egg!! One of my White Leghorns. Charity--how apropos!

 

[jockeyeba]

TB's but I used to ride QH's many years ago Won 4 races on a Beduino mare 900 entries If X-rays don't show any coffin bone rotation you maybe ok & very lucky. I hope he comes back for you

Wow what a small world! I need to do more research but I've heard Beduino was a top notch sire. My boy is very much a Beduino from what I've heard. He's smart, but quirky, and a little pushy.
I always dreamed of being a jockey no real racing in Central FL where is was born raised and still live. I've done dressage for past 7 years and then got my barrel horse last year for something fun. Barrel racing is closest to being a jockey I'll ever get to.

We lived in Lake Mary from 72-76, there was a racetrack that used to race QH's but was a Harness track at that time. My best friend teaches jumping. I've barrel raced in the past & want to get back into it since I've retired from jockeying

 

[jockeyeba]

Wanted to add.... I started using the pie pan last winter with chicks in sub-freezing temps. It was just perfect to set on my heated base to keep the ff from freezing solid. I didn't use the flat pie pan prior to that, but decided to keep using it this time. Prior to getting the pyrex pie plate, I had used ss puppy pans extensively. BUT... they are too light weight and tip over easily. The pyrex/anchor pans are heavy enough that they stay put and don't tip. Also - I want to credit Delisha for showing us the vintage glass water/feed bases. I got mine after being inspired by hers! Here are a couple photos today: You can see how the pans are raised up. The pie plate is on a "clementine box" turned up-side-down with a sheet of the rubermaid shelf liner on top for anti-slip. The water is on a flat brick, also with a sheet of anti-slip rubbermaid shelf liner. If I'd had 2 clementine boxes I would have put it on one of those too. It helps raise them up out of the shavings. Chicks have a natural in-bred desire to scratch. They can get in that pan and scratch to their heart's content without getting a bunch of shavings in it. Just in case you've never seen a clementine box...they're made of wood. Makes a perfect chick food platform:

Another thing... The first time we had chicks I also tried making a hanging feeder to keep the shaving out. My husband made one of wire and it did hold it up. I only ended up using it a week before I felt like it wasn't useful and ditched the idea.

Love the clementine box idea, I'll be looking for some tomorrow at my grocery store

 

[rowerjen]

So I may have to just use the base this winter since I don't have any electricity in the coop. I was planning to add hot water every morning (and maybe every evening!). But that won't work in a mason jar.

Chaos - I don't have electricity in my coop either. I filled dog dishes with warm water every morning. The also had snow to nibble on. Made it through the winter just fine.