Things you wish you knew starting out?

[AllenK RGV]

Didn't know it was a contest,
thought it was a discussion that your medical background made interesting.
Was just sharing my knowledge and experiences of 'bumblefoot' for you and those wishing to learn.
There are a lot of extreme cases and treatments online often misrepresented and/or overblown IMO.
It's a simple infected wound that might become severe enough to warrant extreme invasive treatment.
Most chicken injuries can be treated as you would human one;
clean it, keep it clean and 'dry', topical antibiotic ointment
(without pain relief ingredient [-caine] as it's toxic to birds)
to fend off infection and keep new tissue moist.
Have seen documentation of birds literally scalped of skin and heal back up,
with basics just described and wounds left uncovered.
Bumblefoot is trickier because it's hard to spot and they walk on filth all day so might require bandaging if treated. Have had several cases of it here, some with swelling and limping, never treated and they all healed up without intervention.

It's just things you might want to know before starting out.
Take everything with grains of salt....and don't overreact to worst case scenarios.

It wasn't intended as a contest at all. Just you were right I was wrong. When I saw those excised bumbles I just knew that was something unlike any abcess I had ever seen or treated. I am sure chicken are like mammals when it comes to soft tissue injuries or broken bones I am sure they are treated just as mammals. But those bumbles are very un-mamalian in the way they present should you need to actually intervene. I just hope people who read my ideas don't go that route related to bumblefoot, no freezing too would not resolve this either.

 

[AllenK RGV]

For soft tissue(muscle) abcesses sure you can go my route as it is basically how you get to a healthy wound bed to treat.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Didn't know it was a contest,
thought it was a discussion that your medical background made interesting.
Was just sharing my knowledge and experiences of 'bumblefoot' for you and those wishing to learn.
There are a lot of extreme cases and treatments online often misrepresented and/or overblown IMO.
It's a simple infected wound that might become severe enough to warrant extreme invasive treatment.
Most chicken injuries can be treated as you would human one;
clean it, keep it clean and 'dry', topical antibiotic ointment
(without pain relief ingredient [-caine] as it's toxic to birds)
to fend off infection and keep new tissue moist.
Have seen documentation of birds literally scalped of skin and heal back up,
with basics just described and wounds left uncovered.
Bumblefoot is trickier because it's hard to spot and they walk on filth all day so might require bandaging if treated. Have had several cases of it here, some with swelling and limping, never treated and they all healed up without intervention.

It's just things you might want to know before starting out.
Take everything with grains of salt....and don't overreact to worst case scenarios.

I like one other point you make here and it reminds me of a Voltaire quote which I am about to bungle horribly cause im not going to look it up. Basically it is Medicine is basically about keeping the patient entertained and let time heal all wounds. Regarding your closing statements.

 

[aart]

TY, I really agree with the heating pad cave post. I had the issue when brooding/growing them out that 250w bulb was entirely overpowered for my location. Went to TSC here locally and they also had the same wattage bulb. Were I to do it again I would used the heating pad cave too.

Love the heating pad!!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/pseudo-brooder-heater-plate.67729/
Tho still use a red 100w reptile light on a dimmer for day heat first couple days after hatching.

 

[RodNTN]

That would be better than Orpington x Sultan. Not as big as an Orpington, not as cute as a Sultan! The hens were pretty OK layers, but 75% roosters that time!

Haha

 

[RodNTN]

Hey as long as it is clean and dry I would be willing to do barefoot in the coop. I would certainly drag my feet through the wet grass once done and then hose em down. Who hasn't stepped in dog poo in there life anyway? The only ill effects I've ever experienced from that is mild nausea and maybe a bit of psychological distress. Barefoot would only be ikky if you make it ikky!

edit-spelling error.

I couldn't have said it better!!

 

[AllenK RGV]

Love the heating pad!!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/pseudo-brooder-heater-plate.67729/
Tho still use a red 100w reptile light on a dimmer for day heat first couple days after hatching.

Yeah mine is sitting in my Amazon order cart waiting on the the 1st so I can click go on the order here!

edit-It may seem silly to put it in a cart when those things are so cheap but I also have 50 of Kevin's Quality Clothespins @ $86- for my wife among other little wish list items.

 

[3riverschick]

I wouldn't .I don't like the heating cave idea at all. I think it's an incubator for bacteria. I see no way to satisfactorily sanitize the heat cave.
I think that the lights are much more sanitary. I would not use 250 Reds. I'll never use them again
I use 80 watt floods or soft white sixty watt.
On the other hand, I love the idea of the eco glow and the sweeter heater. especially the sweeter heater because it can be hung from the ceiling raised and lowered.... and I think is probably more easily washable than the eco glow, although that is I'm sure up for argument.
Even Gail Damrow ,the famous poultry author and breeder , has switched from lights to the sweeter heater. I think that says something.
www.brinsea.com. www.sweeterheater.com
Karen

 

[mquadem]

Access to a Lab that test for Avian diseases by simply filling out a form and mailing it along with a SIMPLE sterile Q-tip swab, stool or blood sample in a ziplock bag. Including but not limited to Marek's disease coccidia and many many more serious illnesses that are flocks fall victim to. (Results the same day they receive the package) Cost $18 "priceless"
http://www.vetdna.com/

 

[Christine972]

What is a sweeter heater? Hope it is not too expensive!