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

[galanie]

 I usually grab a couple of my chickens off the roost just before beddy bye & look them over I check her vent for bugs etc. I always feel her crop & comment to her that hey girl you should sleep good tonight because your crop is full. Take a light inside the coop at 2 in the morning & shine it on them it really sounds like bombs going off they all start pooping .

If I'm ever up at that time I might actually do that! HAHAHA

 

[Leahs Mom]

Can y'all comment on the "cherry red combs".

I was looking at my little flock (6 hens- 2 BR, 2RIR, 2 Auracona) yesterday and I can't say that any of them are "cherry red". I'd say most are a little faded. Perhaps the RIR's are closest to "cherry red" than any of the other.

-They are just 6.5 mos. old.
-Fed organic soy-free feed mixed locally at the feed mill; protein 16%
-Given sprouted sunflower seeds & grains about 5 days/week
-Get watermellon rinds, tomatos from the garden etc. when available
-Are able to range as far as their electronet lets them - and it's area is moved about every week
-Have plenty of room in their hen house (most of 8x12 shed)
-Feed is offered dry AND soaked at least overnight w/ACV added
-Add Lard to feed occasionally (Was it Walt or Fowlman who suggested that?)

They all seem very healthy and are laying well. Should I be concerned with the lack of cherry red? If so, what might I do that would help that issue?

 

[off-grid hen]

Can y'all comment on the "cherry red combs".

I was looking at my little flock (6 hens- 2 BR, 2RIR, 2 Auracona) yesterday and I can't say that any of them are "cherry red". I'd say most are a little faded. Perhaps the RIR's are closest to "cherry red" than any of the other.

-They are just 6.5 mos. old.
-Fed organic soy-free feed mixed locally at the feed mill; protein 16%
-Given sprouted sunflower seeds & grains about 5 days/week
-Get watermellon rinds, tomatos from the garden etc. when available
-Are able to range as far as their electronet lets them - and it's area is moved about every week
-Have plenty of room in their hen house (most of 8x12 shed)
-Feed is offered dry AND soaked at least overnight w/ACV added
-Add Lard to feed occasionally (Was it Walt or Fowlman who suggested that?)

They all seem very healthy and are laying well. Should I be concerned with the lack of cherry red? If so, what might I do that would help that issue?

I would say take a photo and post it. I have a few who stopped laying due to molt. Another one just stopped being broody and she isn't laying again yet. I always thought that the "bleaching" of the face and slightly less red of the comb was when they weren't laying? None of the combs are pale, but they aren't as red as the ones on my roosters. Maybe there are other problems I'm not aware of?

 

[cbuffy]

I've been lurking on this and the OT thread since it began. I sure appreciate all the knowledge being shared here! My flock is looking better and better (not that they ever looked bad, but I'm still seeing improvements...)

Bee - you mentioned earlier you used NuStock on your dog for fleas? This year I refer to our flea issues as a Moses Plague! They haven't been this bad in years! I have 3 dogs and the poor things are miserable. And winter isn't for a LONG time yet. Here in Central Florida it doesn't show up until January and is generally on a Thursday... Anyhow, can you give me some hints on how you did it? I've never used it before, since it comes in a tube I'm assuming it's a "cream" sort of thing. Any wisdom you can lay on me would be so appreciated!

And, congrats on how the Gnarly Bunch are looking! Hard to believe it's the same flock!

 

[Dahlisgrams]

The flock looks much improved, Bee! It's working, that's clear. Nice!!

Fed our flock with FF for the first time today and they loved it! Looked at it with a bit of suspicion at first and then one tried it, liked it, and the others followed. Leo the bantam Ameraucana rooster tried it and called the girls over for a taste. Yum....

I picked up some alfalfa pellets and crimped oats to add to the mix. I started with crumbles, water and ground flax seeds and will add the alfalfa and some oats today. The ACV should arrive tomorrow and I'll add some of that too. It doesn't smell bad, but it does smell different! I can't wait to see how their feather condition improves. They aren't in bad shape now but I've no doubt they'll look healthier in general.

 

[lalaland]

Bee,
Have you found the scales have dropped off their legs ? Am curious because several years ago I inadvertently introduced scaly mites to the flock from a rescue bird, and their legs still look terrible. I don't think I have active mites, since the legs on hens introduced to the flock last year are still mite free, but the original girls look horrid. Gnarly, dry, grey, knobby, etc. not smooth, and not normal colored for their breeds.

I did order nu stock and thought I would treat the hens with the ugly legs, but am just wondering what the visual difference is for you.

 

[Beekissed]

Wow...I leave for one day to get in wood and y'all are hoppin' on this place!

Bee..do you still have a dog out there with your birds? I'm still really afraid to let mine range the whole property so keep them in electro net...but there's 2 acres their house sits on and another 10 next door they could use...

Yes, I always have the dog out with the birds. Your birds won't get much further than 1-2 acre distance away from their coop, so if you can put a dog smack dab in the middle of that range, they have someone to run to...that's how I have my dog set up. His house is right beside the pop door, which is left open all night. If I had electronetting but wanted to free range beyond it, I'd place it between your coop and the biggest area of threat...a wood line, the neighbor's dogs, the road, etc. That way the birds and the potential predators both have a barrier that deters crossing into the danger zone.

I fed my first serving of FF to my girls when I got home from work yesterday. I has been fermenting on my counter for 48 hours. They loved it!! Is it not a good idea to feed them late in the afternoon? I leave for work at 5am ... its stilll dark out. DH lets them out around 8am to free range till I get home around 5pm (they have access to pellets all day in the coop if they wish to eat it). I'm just wondering if I need to re-think this new feeding routine ....... maybe its not a good idea for the girls to have a full crop too close to bedtime. Or does that matter?

I always feed my flock in the evening during good free range months. This encourages them to eat as much as possible out on forage before they load up on the less than healthy grain based feeds in the evening. A hungry bird is a good foraging bird. That way no one goes to bed with an empty stomach if they didn't find good provender out on range. It also makes them hungry enough to eat what they've been given and not leave any left over for nighttime rodent raids on the feeder.

In the winter months I feed in the mornings and they sample it all day, but by evening it should be gone. Again, this leaves me with no food out for rodents at night and also gives the chickens food if the snows are too deep to forage.

I usually grab a couple of my chickens off the roost just before beddy bye & look them over I check her vent for bugs etc. I always feel her crop & comment to her that hey girl you should sleep good tonight because your crop is full. Take a light inside the coop at 2 in the morning & shine it on them it really sounds like bombs going off they all start pooping .

This is true! When I go up to check chickens for any reason, each one I shine a light on or touch seems to have to evacuate the bowels all the sudden....sort of a defense mechanism?

I don't know but it works every time...shine the light, drop the bomb.

Can y'all comment on the "cherry red combs".

I was looking at my little flock (6 hens- 2 BR, 2RIR, 2 Auracona) yesterday and I can't say that any of them are "cherry red". I'd say most are a little faded. Perhaps the RIR's are closest to "cherry red" than any of the other.

-They are just 6.5 mos. old.
-Fed organic soy-free feed mixed locally at the feed mill; protein 16%
-Given sprouted sunflower seeds & grains about 5 days/week
-Get watermellon rinds, tomatos from the garden etc. when available
-Are able to range as far as their electronet lets them - and it's area is moved about every week
-Have plenty of room in their hen house (most of 8x12 shed)
-Feed is offered dry AND soaked at least overnight w/ACV added
-Add Lard to feed occasionally (Was it Walt or Fowlman who suggested that?)

They all seem very healthy and are laying well. Should I be concerned with the lack of cherry red? If so, what might I do that would help that issue?

I wouldn't get worked up over it....if they are healthy birds and it sounds like they are getting proper feed, it could be just the time of year. Slow down time makes everything change....in the late winter/early spring in peak laying season is where you will really start to see those really red combs. The only reason I mention it for this flock is because, not only are their combs pale pink, but the skin around their eyes, their beaks and their legs are also very pale. Parasites and poor nutrition is why they are so anemic and sometimes that takes awhile to build back up, especially in aging birds like mine. They may never regain that previous good health and cherry red goodness...but yours more than likely will show you that red come next laying season.

I've been lurking on this and the OT thread since it began. I sure appreciate all the knowledge being shared here! My flock is looking better and better (not that they ever looked bad, but I'm still seeing improvements...)

Bee - you mentioned earlier you used NuStock on your dog for fleas? This year I refer to our flea issues as a Moses Plague! They haven't been this bad in years! I have 3 dogs and the poor things are miserable. And winter isn't for a LONG time yet. Here in Central Florida it doesn't show up until January and is generally on a Thursday... Anyhow, can you give me some hints on how you did it? I've never used it before, since it comes in a tube I'm assuming it's a "cream" sort of thing. Any wisdom you can lay on me would be so appreciated!

And, congrats on how the Gnarly Bunch are looking! Hard to believe it's the same flock!

I just worked it into all the thinner haired skin along his belly and loins and worked a some into the base of the tail and behind the ears(a little more difficult but smaller spots). I'm still not seeing him scratch~and this application was a some days ago~ and the open areas are all healed...that fast! The evidence of flea bites is gone as well. I love this NS...I'll always keep some around as long as I have animals.

Bee,
Have you found the scales have dropped off their legs ? Am curious because several years ago I inadvertently introduced scaly mites to the flock from a rescue bird, and their legs still look terrible. I don't think I have active mites, since the legs on hens introduced to the flock last year are still mite free, but the original girls look horrid. Gnarly, dry, grey, knobby, etc. not smooth, and not normal colored for their breeds.

I did order nu stock and thought I would treat the hens with the ugly legs, but am just wondering what the visual difference is for you.

I would treat them with the NuStock. One of the things it is well known for is encouraging hair, feather and scale regrowth. The last batch I had with scale mites(also given to me with a flock of "free" chickens...never again

that looked healthy and all...goes to show ain't nothing free in life) the scales sort of ridged up like you described, in hard nasty looking ridges and eventually sloughed off on their own. That sloughing takes a little time but not long...I just was viewing the flock one day and realized, "Hey! Those old scales are gone!". New, shiny and supple scales were underneath that pushed up ridge.

I have a few that are already showing that grey ridge of hardened scales on the front of the legs....pretty soon they will slough. Don't be tempted to pull those off when you see them separating...still tender under there and could cause them to bleed. Just let it fall off on it's own or let the chickens groom them off.

 

[Beekissed]

Got my liquid pine tar today in the mail and also got mineral oil...but failed to find any sulfur powder. Will be ordering that off the net.

Two eggs today....lovely and huge deep orange yolks. Gave one to the watchdog and one to the flock.

 

[armorfirelady]

I am reading all the posts & realized I dont know what a vent it. So I went out & grabbed one of the hens (no bombs went off lol) & took a look at her south end. Still dont know what the vent is but I do know that there is nothing sticky, smelly or red there. Guess its a start. Their legs have some grey spots but I think its just dirt we have had rain the last week. Muddy run plus they love the dry dirt in the run. Off to google to find pics of a chicken vent.

 

[Beekissed]

The vent is just the anal opening...fancy word for butt-hole. I think they call it that instead of this because it also is known as the cloaca~it's not simply an anal opening but also a vaginal opening as well.