The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

KI...if that's the case, she should likely be kept inside for observation after that bath rather than being put out in this cold weather.

 

[TeaChick]

If you do the soak, keep her in it for about half hour. You can add some epsom salt if you want.

At this time of year, be sure that you dry her thoroughly before returning her outside! When I treated a bumblefoot last year I used a hair dryer on low and used my hand to filter it so it wasn't blowing directly on her.

Is she molting?

You might want to try to determine more positively if it is a broken egg inside before doing the soak since the weather is so cold!
You say "egg white looking pooh". Are you saying that her poo is clear and thick? Do you see any signs of anything that looks like egg yolk or shell? Just clear/watery poo may not indicate a broken egg inside. Have you observed her pooing anything else? Any poo that looks "normal" (which can be quite a range).



If you do a soak, I found that a deep bucket worked better for me than a bowl - though I tried both ways. The bucket with a towel over the top was easier to keep her in and more peaceful - though I once saw Bulldogma do one of her girls in a shallow container and she looked like a viking ship!

Anyhow, a couple of photos:
This is when I did it in a large bowl. But my girl was just soaking feet rather than the whole bottom and abdomen. She may have relaxed more if she was hunkered down for a body soak.



And - a bucket of thicken. Would you like white or dark meat?

Yes, she had a clear, thick discharge on the bedding in the brooder. Yesterday it looked like yellow mustard (not that it was brownish "mustard yellow" the color, but that it looked like the bright yellow mustard for hotdogs). Today it was mostly clear and thick (like the "white" of an egg) and streaked with the same bright yellow color.
{side note: I didn't immediately think the yellow was yolk because I've been eating my chickens' eggs and the yolks are almost orange they're so dark yellow.}

She doesn't appear to be shedding anymore feathers than usual; although my DS mentioned the other day in the hen house that there were a lot of her feathers in one spot, so..... I don't know.
I don't know what else would be an indication of molting. Apparently, being in a bad mood, but she's never in an overly good mood, so....
I'm sorry; I know I'm not being of much help in you all trying to help me.

I do appreciate all the help and advice I've been getting; thank you!!!

 

[ki4got]

KI...if that's the case, she should likely be kept inside for observation after that bath rather than being put out in this cold weather.

that's my thought as well... and what I would do if it were my own hen.

I had a cochin cockerel yesterday knocked for a loop by a hawk (hubby didn't get the rifle fast enough before it flew off). he had a couple small cuts on his head/neck but spent the night inside anyways, just to keep an eye on him. this morning he ate well and was eager to get back outside, so I let him back out this afternoon.

i'm all for putting them in confinement and observing for a short time just to be safe.

 

[delisha]

My brood hen is under the weather again.

Apparently, she's most likely egg bound???
(The other two possibilities are that she has worms or that she has some contagious digestive thing; however, the egg white looking poo leans dramatically in the direction of egg bound.)

Yesterday and today, I gave her 1oz plain yogurt, 1/4 t ecinechea, and 1 egg scrambled (shell and all).
She eats about half of it.
Her vent is clean.
Her feet feel cold. The bare spot under her wing isn't any warmer than my hand.
She's been slow and she just doesn't look well.

Please help. =)

advise below..

If you do the soak, keep her in it for about half hour. You can add some epsom salt if you want.

At this time of year, be sure that you dry her thoroughly before returning her outside! When I treated a bumblefoot last year I used a hair dryer on low and used my hand to filter it so it wasn't blowing directly on her.

Is she molting?

You might want to try to determine more positively if it is a broken egg inside before doing the soak since the weather is so cold!
You say "egg white looking pooh". Are you saying that her poo is clear and thick? Do you see any signs of anything that looks like egg yolk or shell? Just clear/watery poo may not indicate a broken egg inside. Have you observed her pooing anything else? Any poo that looks "normal" (which can be quite a range).



If you do a soak, I found that a deep bucket worked better for me than a bowl - though I tried both ways. The bucket with a towel over the top was easier to keep her in and more peaceful - though I once saw Bulldogma do one of her girls in a shallow container and she looked like a viking ship!

Anyhow, a couple of photos:
This is when I did it in a large bowl. But my girl was just soaking feet rather than the whole bottom and abdomen. She may have relaxed more if she was hunkered down for a body soak.



And - a bucket of thicken. Would you like white or dark meat?

good advise for everyone..

I just want to add..

Before any type of treatment..try to find the cause.

Since chicken keeping is guess work for the most part we have to rely on elimination. It is cold out. I would not get her wet unless you have no other option.

1. Egg bound hens are puffed up and look like a penguin. That means the rear is down and the front is up. They do not walk around much and do not like to eat.
2. Take her temp...chicken temps are 103-106
3. Palpatate her tummy and feel if it is hard or soft. Find her hip bones and her duct and feel for an egg. They are easy to feel and if it has been a few days it is easy to smell. It can kill a bird from the inside out. So smell her bum.
4. weigh her often and watch her weight loss
5. Know the parts of your chickens

This time of year it is hard to say if it could be egg laying issues. If the bird is fat or old it is a possibility. I would presume it is molt. She might have secondary issues like worms or cocci. You might consider taking a poo sample into a vets office for a fecal exam and have it tested. If you have dogs I take my dogs in at the same time. This is a perfect time of year for testing since birds are not laying or slow and if they have worms and if you do have to treat there are no eggs to worry about.
I have a hen who acts like she is going to die when she molts. She is over sensitive and acts so weird. The first time it freaked me out..so it could be as simple as molt.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

If the hen is broody, how could she get egg bound? I thought broody hens stopped laying? Did she just start brooding and is still trying to fill her nest?

 

[ravenseye57]

I'm having trouble with ear mites I think. Several girls are shaking their heads a lot. This has probably been answered here, but any natural treatments besides DE and wood ashes in the dust bath? I feed organic and I don't want to use chemical insecticides.

 

[Scott H]

I'm sorry but if you have mites, IMHO you need to give them a treatment of Ivermectin...I know of now natural methods of getting rid of Lice or Mites.

 

[Jewelwing]

I got these two early this morning. Not sure what is up with the white speckles on that one?

That speckled egg is awesome! Wouldn't that be fun to dye for Easter? Maybe you could blow it out and save it.

 

[Jewelwing]

Does anyone want to play the "Who's Going to Lay First?" game? Here are my nine girls, all 21 weeks old. No one has started laying.



Adele (Australorp) Cricket (Australorp)



Dina (Welsummer) Toothless (Welsummer)
her comb & wattles are actually a bit redder than they look here
In my next post, her comb is glowing behind the Brahma's head.


Dr. Pecker (Speckled Sussex) Ethel (Speckled Sussex)



Sally (Salmon Faverolle) Big Momma & Amy (Brahmas)
she's a bit neurotic, so it's hard to get her picture! (with Cricket in the background)

 

[Jewelwing]

Just some fun photos I got while I was trying to get good pictures so you could guess who's going to lay first: