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

[Ashdoes]

I'm having a difficult time understanding what I see in this pic...from that angle it looks like there is a big black and white lump in the middle of the foot and toes sticking out at random angles.  Maybe use some flash on that pic so that we can differentiate the different lumps and toes?  I don't know that I've ever seen a chicken foot that looks like that before.  Is the toe broken and has healed folded under? 


If so, you could splint it and tape it to the splint so that it has to be outstretched and maybe it would go back to a normal position on it's own after being straightened out for awhile?  If you splinted it straight at least he couldn't walk on it. 


 

Yeah the lump on the side is the side of the toe, it got a bit swollen, from being walked on, I think. I was moving the bent toe a bit it kind if clicked, and could move it back towards the right spot, I'm just not sure how to get the dang thing to stay. What should I use to splint it?

It's not easy taking foot pics by myself, but I bet I could figure out a way to get it more lit. Anyways I hope I can fix it. Even though he's walking and being normal, I feel like it must hurt and can't be good for him in the long run.

I'm not sure when it could have happened. I pick up the Silkies a lot, to clean off there feet and check them out. But I had a family crisis, and have barely been with the chickens longer then it takes to feed them, for about two weeks. Of course now I feel awful.

[COLOR=4B0082]Sorry Bee, I had to laugh (outloud) at your reply... cuz we all know how many Silkie feet you look at, lol [/COLOR]
[COLOR=4B0082](I on the other hand am fascinated with my Silkies' feet and inspect them constantly, lol. Those extra toes freak me out, [/COLOR] [COLOR=4B0082]).[/COLOR]
 
[COLOR=4B0082]Ash...[/COLOR]
[COLOR=4B0082]I've splinted a couple broken Guinea legs before (and curled toes on quite a few day old keets), but never worked on a chicken toe, lol... but if you can get the toe back into place I agree with splinting. If it were my bird I'd yank all those those toe feathers out and use duct tape and popsicle sticks cut down to size so they are supportive but not overly bulky (or maybe even some big heavy duty sturdy toothpicks like you see stuck in deli sandwiches that hold them together). I'd sandwich the affected toe and at least the toe next to it in the correct position between 2 layers of tape, making sure to press it down well between the toes. He'll basically be wearing a partial shoe, or a boot... and may not be too happy about it, but he'll learn to cope and at least the toe will not be folding under any more. The tape on the splint will probably  need to be replaced every few days, because the oils in the skin and dirt/debris will loosen it up enough for him to lose it while running around. It may take a couple weeks or more of being splinted to see if it's going to help the toe or not, so I wouldn't give up if you don't see any improvement right away. HTH.[/COLOR]

Thank you! That makes sense. I'll try to splint the toe straight, then tape it to the middle toe. I figure if he's able to walk on it with the toe curled, he'll be able to walk with it taped.
I bought a bunch if stuff today, so I'm sure I've got enough to get it started.

 

[Ashdoes]

Yeah, Peeps....silkies look like aliens to me, so I'm not so good at knowing what is normal for a silkie.  It all looks like a hot mess to me! 

Actually their feet creep me out. It's the extra toe, it's just weird. I actually starred at his foot for five minutes trying to figure out where it was wrong.

 

[Beekissed]

YW, Peeps!

That's the only reason I hang around this place....to hopefully help others navigate these things called chickens~and for all the great people you meet here! A good while back someone reminded me that not everyone had a grandma that was an old country woman from which to learn about chickens and I got to thinking how hard it would be for someone to learn all the simple ways of farming small livestock without having that knowledge base. They would have to start reading about them.

Then I saw the books out there and realized that they held little knowledge that was practical and useful, so that's when I started sharing what I've learned down through the years. I thought, "These people sure need a few "grandpas and grandmas" on this forum....and so the OT thread was born. And now this one. I think my Grandma Ruby would be tickled about it all...she had a great sense of humor and was a funny old bird. We shared a lot of the same qualities, so I identify with her a good bit.

 

[jlynnet]

My girls are loving the water with UP/ACV added. We use heated 1&1/2gallon dog bowls for the winter. We fill up a couple old milk jugs and take them out. I've not let them out since the darn hawk won't leave. My neighbors think this bird is responsible for our decrease in small birds. I read they usually migrate south, so hopefully it gets outta here soon! My girls need to get out and run around!

 

[Arielle]

YW, Peeps!

That's the only reason I hang around this place....to hopefully help others navigate these things called chickens~and for all the great people you meet here! A good while back someone reminded me that not everyone had a grandma that was an old country woman from which to learn about chickens and I got to thinking how hard it would be for someone to learn all the simple ways of farming small livestock without having that knowledge base. They would have to start reading about them.

Then I saw the books out there and realized that they held little knowledge that was practical and useful, so that's when I started sharing what I've learned down through the years. I thought, "These people sure need a few "grandpas and grandmas" on this forum....and so the OT thread was born. And now this one. I think my Grandma Ruby would be tickled about it all...she had a great sense of humor and was a funny old bird. We shared a lot of the same qualities, so I identify with her a good bit.

THanks Bee for sharing your wealth of knowledge--I hae a bit of reading to do to catch up!

 

[Leahs Mom]

So can we call you Granny Bee now?

PS: It sure has been helpful!

YW, Peeps!

That's the only reason I hang around this place....to hopefully help others navigate these things called chickens~and for all the great people you meet here! A good while back someone reminded me that not everyone had a grandma that was an old country woman from which to learn about chickens and I got to thinking how hard it would be for someone to learn all the simple ways of farming small livestock without having that knowledge base. They would have to start reading about them.

Then I saw the books out there and realized that they held little knowledge that was practical and useful, so that's when I started sharing what I've learned down through the years. I thought, "These people sure need a few "grandpas and grandmas" on this forum....and so the OT thread was born. And now this one. I think my Grandma Ruby would be tickled about it all...she had a great sense of humor and was a funny old bird. We shared a lot of the same qualities, so I identify with her a good bit.

 

[galefrances]

Quote: Thanks Bee I guess when you are new at something like the FF, I have been worried that I was doing it wrong and would end up growing mold I think I am getting it down now. Yes, you are right about watching poop, it can get you a little crazy. My chickens only sleep in their coop so they have tubs of sand under their roosts so I just scoop it out like cat litter. It helps keep their area clean and also enables me to be aware of any changes in their health.

I am having the same issues as Arkansaschicks. My chickens have been on FF for about a month, then I added the raw pumpkin and seeds about a week ago. I noticed (because I also have a poop board with sand) that some of the poop is soft with a water ring around it. At first it was just one bird, now it's several. And the amount of poop has increased. Could this be related to too much pumpkin?

 

[galefrances]

YW, Peeps!

That's the only reason I hang around this place....to hopefully help others navigate these things called chickens~and for all the great people you meet here! A good while back someone reminded me that not everyone had a grandma that was an old country woman from which to learn about chickens and I got to thinking how hard it would be for someone to learn all the simple ways of farming small livestock without having that knowledge base. They would have to start reading about them.

Then I saw the books out there and realized that they held little knowledge that was practical and useful, so that's when I started sharing what I've learned down through the years. I thought, "These people sure need a few "grandpas and grandmas" on this forum....and so the OT thread was born. And n."ow this one. I think my Grandma Ruby would be tickled about it all...she had a great sense of humor and was a funny old bird. We shared a lot of the same qualities, so I identify with her a good bit.

You know Bee, you are so right and so valuable to this forum and people like me trying to learn. I feel so lost at times. Oh, I wanted to share this: my cousin who is 77yrs old called me yesterday. She was raised in Pennsylvania and her grandparents owned a farm and raised among other things, chickens. She was excited to hear about my chickens and told me some stories of when she was a kid. I can't tell you how intrigued I was. Anyway, she said her grandfather, knowing the grand kids would be coming to visit for Easter, would color the chicks that were going to hatch. NOT after they were hatched mind you, BEFORE they hatched. He would use a needle and syringe to inject dye into the egg before the chick hatched. When the chicks were hatched they would come out all different colors, blue, green and such. Then, of course, as they grew the color would be lost. Have you ever heard of anyone doing that? She talked all afternoon about her memories of her childhood and chickens. I was amazed at her experiences. And I found out, she killed chickens at the age of 7!! Why do farmers let such young children do that? When I asked her how she dealt with doing that at such a young age, she said, " I don't know. I just did it". My point to this, or one of them is, what a great gift it is to be raised in the country around animals, and be taught about life and death in such a natural way. Those experiences can never be taught from a book. So thank you Bee for sharing your knowledge and giving us that base from which to grow from.

 

[aoxa]

[COLOR=4B0082]Silkies ARE aliens, lol. Furblind fluffy freaks of nature, with extra toes... more bizarre than polydactyl cats. It's just wrong, lol.[/COLOR] [COLOR=4B0082]My poultry endevour over the past 6 1/2-7 yrs has been limited to fingernails on a chalkboard screachin' Guineas mainly, with a few Peafowl and Turkeys thrown into the mix for variety... hatching some Silkie eggs this season was my dive into the chicken world , and I'm not even sure I should have taken that dive yet, lol. But after pouring over the FF thread for weeks (and as much as I enjoy the taste of Guinea) I'm seriously considering raising a batch of free ranging FF eatin' meaties come Springtime...[/COLOR] [COLOR=4B0082]Have to say I do SO appreciate all the great info/advice you put out there Bee, even tho you are a true blue chicken gal I've taken a lot of what I've read from your info and knowledge packed threads and posts and applied it to my own birds/flocks... and all for the better! Thanks [/COLOR]

Silkies AND Guineas? You're on both extremes I believe. Silkies are like teddy bears (or rabbits). Guineas are the aliens I mean.. that sound.. It's.. so.. loud.. I love 5 toes. It's so weird and I like that

My Houdans have 5 toes too. As for the question about the toes to the OP: I have seen it happen like that from day olds and it does get irritated. I usually make chick shoes to correct it before they are adults. You can try an adult chick shoe?

 

[nbchickfarming]

WOW its hard to keep up after taking few days away from this thread

..Thank you bee for sharing all your knowledge and experience. My chickens are loving the leaves and stuff in the run. Still working to get the right FF mix-set up, so far they love it.. Everybody is definitely healthier, no smell in coop and the DLM is still working well. I have noticed the green eggs are more of an olive color and the yolks are a darker color.. also getting 9 eggs again for the first time in weeks. Glad you posted the pics regarding the hip abnormalities-very helpful.