The road less traveled...back to good health! They have lice, mites, scale mites, worms, anemia, gl

[Leahs Mom]

After following this thread from the beginning, something just occurred to me. I haven't once gone out and examined my birds physically. I haven't looked at their feet. I haven't looked to see if there were lice or mites.

Now I haven't seen any indication of illness or issues and perhaps that's why I haven't done it. But when that occurred to me, it raised a question.

Do you just routinely go out at certain intervals of time after dark and do a check-over? Or do you wait until you see some reason to suspect a problem and then do it?

The real question - do I do "well chicken visits" -

or do I wait until the need becomes obvious?

 

[Beekissed]

Dumb question.
How does a chicken scratch? And where can they reach?
Do they scratch with their feet, beak, or both?

Both. They can reach almost anywhere...their necks are very mobile and their feet can reach the places their beaks cannot..like the backs of their own heads.

After following this thread from the beginning, something just occurred to me. I haven't once gone out and examined my birds physically. I haven't looked at their feet. I haven't looked to see if there were lice or mites.

Now I haven't seen any indication of illness or issues and perhaps that's why I haven't done it. But when that occurred to me, it raised a question.

Do you just routinely go out at certain intervals of time after dark and do a check-over? Or do you wait until you see some reason to suspect a problem and then do it?

The real question - do I do "well chicken visits" -

or do I wait until the need becomes obvious?

I have never done well chicken visits. Just something I've never needed to do. My chickens have always enjoyed glossy good health and before getting this old flock back in sad shape, I always just did examinations for any reason on an "as needed" basis.

I don't expect to have health issues and I normally never do. Just observations of overall appearance can usually tell you if a chicken is having some kind of change in health compared to her flock mates. When your flock is normally in good health, a bird that is dull feathered, rough feathered, walking wrong or standing differently will stand out like a sore thumb amongst all the normal looking birds.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I have never done well chicken visits. Just something I've never needed to do. My chickens have always enjoyed glossy good health and before getting this old flock back in sad shape, I always just did examinations for any reason on an "as needed" basis.

I don't expect to have health issues and I normally never do. Just observations of overall appearance can usually tell you if a chicken is having some kind of change in health compared to her flock mates. When your flock is normally in good health, a bird that is dull feathered, rough feathered, walking wrong or standing differently will stand out like a sore thumb amongst all the normal looking birds.

Good to know. I just kind-of assumed that having the knowledge that we're getting here would make me aware of the issues and that it would be obvious if there was a change or need - like you're saying. Then I started "second-guessing" and wondered if I should have a different approach.

Just knowing what to be aware of is a tremendous help. It feels like I have years of experience and wisdom just from watching and learning here. Definitely grateful for the input, and experience of all that have gone before me that have been willing to share it with us! (Makes me think of the many Proverbs that talk about how the wise person "gets learning and knowledge" and "ties wisdom around their neck".... Thanks again.

 

[Mumsy]

None of the products on the shelves at the country/feed store got rid of the mites on Johnny. It's been 24 hours since coating Johnny's bum and scratched bare spots with Nu Stock. I have dusted him with ash and filled his covered dust bath crater with ash. The quarantine house, the nesting pen and his black out sleeping box has been ash coated and all wood parts sprayed with Neem oil. I am happy to report that for the first time in three months his scratching is 85% lessened! All of my pens and the isle of my barn are now filled with shavings, hay, and leaves. The barn already smells better and I only have one chicken! I do not plan on cleaning my litter until early next fall. My pullets are ready to be picked up next weekend and the barn is ready for them. Wood ash, Nu stock, and Neem oil. The only thing I will use from now on for lice or mites.

 

[Beekissed]

Me too!

I haven't seen any of my flock scratching or acting like they have regressed into mite or lice recurrence, so I'm quite pleased with it all. I noticed today that Katy is still molting her larger feathers but the monkey butt she has had all this time is starting to show good feather regrowth. I had thought this area had been too damaged by the lice to regrow this year and would probably have to wait until maybe the spring molt but it's all starting to fill in. Looks so much better!

I'm still not too enthused about their comb colors and texture...many of them look kind of dry and still not as pink/red as I would like but I have to keep reminding myself what time of year it is and how old these gals are. I just have to be patient and realize that they didn't get that way in a month or two and they probably won't be fully restored to health in such a short time as this.

 

[Mumsy]

The labels came today! I'm ready to take a basket of Johnny Cakes to the feed store. They may shoot me down at first but I won't give up. So happy! Thank you everyone on this thread that encouraged me to try this. My first customer will be my daughter. I'm taking her a couple varieties for her egg laying hens to try tomorrow.

 

[aoxa]

Well, that blows that theory out of the water.  How about your proteins....feeding more protein right now?  I'll tell you the reason I ask...I've free ranged birds for a long time and never had one with sores on the feet until I got these birds back from The Place.  Several of them had sores or old sores in various stages of healing and they were confined to a pen, so no way of getting injuries on stones or such. 

 
When I saw what they had been roosting on, I kind of figured it was the roosts...ladder roosts with small width boards that were set at an angle, making the actual roosting surface a small, pointy surface.  Then I realized they were feeding hog feed to them and I checked out the usual percentage of protein in hog mash and it's around 22%. 

When I did some research on bumble foot, I found one vet site that stated feeding higher proteins could cause gout and resulting sores on the feet of birds.  So, I'm not sure if it was the roosts or the proteins my birds were getting that caused those sores but I just never knew chickens to have so many sores on their feet like folks on here describe and was just wondering if it's nutritional, environmental or what. 

I have the same type of roosts, and never a single issue with feet. They love the roosts. I tried 2x4s, and they preferred the 2x2's. I am not handy, so they are on an angle as well.

 

[maryhysong]

I brought the old Welsummer girl in the other day to look at her feet again. Just a small amount of loose dirt in that gland hole, soaked, washed, peroxide and some antibiotic cream. Not having a work space out by the coops I just brought her into the bathroom.... here she is with her feet soaking in the sink; I didn't have any epsom salts so have been using pure sea salt.

Here's a close up of her face from Oct 8, shortly after I got her,

and a close up from this week

I don't see much difference yet, but that could be due to the fact that she has lice and had the foot problem. Also previously I was feeding mostly whole grain which is not a lot of protein even when sprouted. I have gradually been upping the protein the past two weeks and now they are all going on mostly 17% layer mash with about 1/4 sprouted grain added to the mix. All fermented, occasionally I chop up squash or other veggies and either feed raw or add to the ferment.

The Wellies aren't laying now; two old girls with lice & molt and 3 young cross bred poults aren't old enough yet, tho one is getting a red comb, so soon. two of my banties are laying and two Buff Orpington pullets; I got 5 eggs today, so a third pullet has started.

Will be getting the Nustock on Sun but it will probably be later in the week before I have time off the job to get everyone gooped up. The old Wellies are the priority; I think they might have been the source as they have the worst.

 

[Ashdoes]

This Silkies foot is killing me! I have taped three different ways. The first time when I looked the next day, the toe was right back under. The second taping didn't last two hours, and I still haven't found the tape and stick. The third time I just pulled off, cause it wasn't working at all.
I'm going to try again tomorrow but this is frustrating!

 

[aoxa]

This Silkies foot is killing me! I have taped three different ways. The first time when I looked the next day, the toe was right back under. The second taping didn't last two hours, and I still haven't found the tape and stick. The third time I just pulled off, cause it wasn't working at all.
I'm going to try again tomorrow but this is frustrating!

You're not alone. Taping just right is really hard! The best tape I have used is this green electrical tape stuff... It worked JUST right. I've tried pretty much every tape. Packing, Scotch, Medical, Duct tape, etc.. It just works well.

I have two chicks who have a minor case of splayed leg. I just taped their legs now, and they are not happy It takes practice to make perfect. For now I have to remind myself to get cheese cloth for the incubator. It's not good for little legs right now