The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Newly hatched Tolbunt Polish

Very pretty.

Congratulations.

 

[TeaChick]

I have a weird question:

I free range. My chickens "always" move around my yard, over the course of the day, in a counter-clockwise direction.
Anyone else notice something like this?

 

[PheasantsFirst]

I have a weird question:

I free range. My chickens "always" move around my yard, over the course of the day, in a counter-clockwise direction.
Anyone else notice something like this?

could they be following the sun spots?

 

[TeaChick]

could they be following the sun spots?

Never thought of that. It's possible, but they go around the entire yard at least two or three times, so.... I'll have to pay attention to that though.

 

[aoxa]

I have a weird question:

I free range. My chickens "always" move around my yard, over the course of the day, in a counter-clockwise direction.
Anyone else notice something like this?

Nope.. My chickens are wild. Going all over the place. Maybe your chickens have OCD?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:

 

[armorfirelady]

Hi all
I have been battling with my girls for a while beginning with red mite to a respiratory infection which hopefully are all now cleared.

The coop, run and the garden have been cleaned and disinfected.  They have been treated for mites contineously so should all be healthy (cannot find anything on them or the coop or at the end of their feather shafts) but now a couple of them have swollen ankle joints.


Their perches were about 4 foot high and I noticed that a couple of them seemed to limp after jumping off the perches so the only thing I can think of is that they have injured themselves jumping from such a height. 

So.....I have lowered their perches to just on 16 inches from the floor, put Ropadiar (oregano tonic for poultry) in their water but 3 of them have swollen ankels that are warm to the touch but no scab or hardness in the foot pads.  I was thinking that by doing what I have should eliminate any further injury from jumping, infection should be helped by the ropadiar tonic but here is what I am not sure of.......

Is there a natural anti inflamatory that I can give them to help reduce the swelling and assist them to heal or am I looking at a vet visit? 

Any and all help greatly appreciated.

May be scale mites. I would coat them with Nustock every couple days for a week or so.

My roosts 3 or 4 daft high any my girls fly up and jump down with no problems. I would think you have more then one hen with this it's probably scale mites

 

[Leahs Mom]

Aoxa - do you raise those heated bowls or do you put them right on the floor?

 

[Leahs Mom]

AFL - I thought you were on your way to the cruise!!!

 

[armorfirelady]

AFL - I thought you were on your way to the cruise!!! 

We flew in a day early in case of storms. I am a little OCD about being delayed lol turns out it was a good idea with the storm getting close to us. I have to say its hard to spend a leisure day in sunshine being able to wear shorts in December when it was 20 when I left home. I finally took my winter hat off in Miami

We are off tomorrow at 11. So I am just enjoying an evening relaxing in the outdoor hot tub.

Ok I'll stop.........but hopefully all the warm temps will maybe bring you all in freezing temps warmer?