The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

You've done what I think I would do. You didn't see any active pus/infection (even dry) when you cut open?

I'd probably do the soaking over the next day or so.

 

[lazy gardener]

Are you sure it's an infection and not a scab superimposed over a lypoma? (fatty tumor) Is it any where near her oil gland at the base of the tail? Is it possible that that's infected? I'm grasping at straws here. When you lanced, did you get all the way through skin to the underlying fatty tissue/muscle underneath?

I'd keep treating it with epsom salts, at least 2 - 3 more good soaks. It may take things a while to come to a head.

 

[BlueMouse]

I didn't see anything I would classify as infection. clear liquid, and some sluggish bleeding, but nothing that looked infected to me, and no foul smell. But whole area sure looks like infection. hot to the touch, grossly swollen. but.... if there's an abcess in there I didn't find it going through the wound. and I think I'd do more harm than good fishing around in there.

I cut down through the scab and skin and into the underlying muscle tissue. nothing doing. Don't dare cut deeper than that and really probe with my limited equipment and experience. It is right around the oil gland area. I would suspect the oil gland of being screwed up if there wasn't a wound. maybe the wound was secondary?? if the oil gland is blocked would epsom salts even help?

as per lymphoma... my dog gets those and they are sort of freely moving under the skin and not hot to the touch or painful to palpitate.

 

[lazy gardener]

The wound could be secondary. If there is an abscess, it may have drained a bit, and stopped, scabbing over, but still have active infection, and be building up for an other "explosion". With it being so close to the oil gland, that is suspect, but you'd have a better idea about that.

 

[armorfirelady]

Blue Mouse maybe adding some herbs to the hens feed that are natural antibiotics, antiseptics, etc may help boost her immune system while you are treating her.

Here is the list a refer to
http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/2013/05/herbs-and-their-uses-for-your-chickens.html

I agree the epsom salt baths are good for them. When I soaked Mrs Green's foot she would protest after I first put her in it but then you could just see her whole body relax as the warmth of the water relaxed her

 

[Shan30]

So does anyone know any other reason for a hens tail to be permanently down?

I have one that had been that way since she feathered out. Totally normal perky tail as a chick though. It doesn't seem to bother her and she seems otherwise normal. Definitely low on the pecking order. She should start laying over the next couple months so I guess we will see how it effects her in that department.

 

[Turk Raphael]

So does anyone know any other reason for a hens tail to be permanently down?

I have one that had been that way since she feathered out. Totally normal perky tail as a chick though. It doesn't seem to bother her and she seems otherwise normal. Definitely low on the pecking order. She should start laying over the next couple months so I guess we will see how it effects her in that department.

I recently was 'gifted' with 26 young Turken/Naked Neck hens from my family for a breeding project and at least 5 or 6 of them have down-turned tails and they have always been that way. The hens are all NaNa so there's something else in their genetic makeup that cause their tails to turn downward. They are all super layers of medium to very large eggs and come from a very healthy flock.

I'm sorry, I haven't followed the thread closely enough to know what your breed is but it might just be the the way the ball bounces.

I know, almost for certain that far back, there was some genetic material in these NNs that might predispose them to have tails that are turned down...these were birds such as the Madagascars.

 

[Shan30]

I recently was 'gifted' with 26 young Turken/Naked Neck hens from my family for a breeding project and at least 5 or 6 of them have down-turned tails and they have always been that way. The hens are all NaNa so there's something else in their genetic makeup that cause their tails to turn downward. They are all super layers of medium to very large eggs and come from a very healthy flock. I'm sorry, I haven't followed the thread closely enough to know what your breed is but it might just be the the way the ball bounces. I know, almost for certain that far back, there was some genetic material in these NNs that might predispose them to have tails that are turned down...these were birds such as the Madagascars.

Oooh I can't help it I find naked necks so unattractive haha! ...are they on leashes? She's an Ameraucana x Chantecler, should be a great layer once she starts. Actually I should probably find some new egg customers as about 20 of my hens should be starting to lay pretty quickly! I figured maybe it was a defect. Doesn't really matter if it does her no harm. These guys were just hatched to see how they would look and for a chance of khaki eggs. Out of curiosity ... we free range some of our birds (aka the ones that can fly or are small enough to fit through the few holes left to allow the juvies out) and occasionally let everyone run free. We have large patches of both comfrey and oregano in their favourite areas yet they never touch it. Do any of you free range your birds around herbs and actually see them eat any?

 

[LindaB220]

Oooh I can't help it I find naked necks so unattractive haha! ...are they on leashes?

She's an Ameraucana x Chantecler, should be a great layer once she starts. Actually I should probably find some new egg customers as about 20 of my hens should be starting to lay pretty quickly! I figured maybe it was a defect. Doesn't really matter if it does her no harm. These guys were just hatched to see how they would look and for a chance of khaki eggs.

Out of curiosity ... we free range some of our birds (aka the ones that can fly or are small enough to fit through the few holes left to allow the juvies out) and occasionally let everyone run free. We have large patches of both comfrey and oregano in their favourite areas yet they never touch it. Do any of you free range your birds around herbs and actually see them eat any?

On the comfrey there is a tiny sticker. They said to pick the leaves and let them wilt overnight and then either hang them up or shred for them. Great for them. High in protein and can be used to bump up the protein level. Up to 30% of daily feedings

 

[Turk Raphael]

Oooh I can't help it I find naked necks so unattractive haha! ...are they on leashes?

She's an Ameraucana x Chantecler, should be a great layer once she starts. Actually I should probably find some new egg customers as about 20 of my hens should be starting to lay pretty quickly! I figured maybe it was a defect. Doesn't really matter if it does her no harm. These guys were just hatched to see how they would look and for a chance of khaki eggs.

Out of curiosity ... we free range some of our birds (aka the ones that can fly or are small enough to fit through the few holes left to allow the juvies out) and occasionally let everyone run free. We have large patches of both comfrey and oregano in their favourite areas yet they never touch it. Do any of you free range your birds around herbs and actually see them eat any?

These are not my birds but yes, they are on leg ties. Not my way of doing things but it works for those with aggresive birds. The Chanties have considerable Cornish genetic material and I think I've seen some Am.s with 'down tails' as well so it might just be a benign genetic thing.

Hoping the bird is doing well and is simply a victim of her heritage!

Turk