Topic of the Week - Keeping the flock safe from mishaps, injuries, etc.

[casportpony]

I just remembered another one and this one is for anyone here with long hair. Watch out for loose hairs when you have chicks around. Over the years I've had chickens I always kept my hair long and the chicks love crawling into it, when I allow them to. Hairs can get tangled up around little chick toes like you won't believe! Even a loose hair they pick up on the ground. I've had to carefully free little toes on a few occasions from hairs they got their toes tangled up in. The reason I put this on the list here is because I found on some of those occasions that they managed to get the hair(s) wrapped around their toes so tight that it was affecting their blood circulation. If you see a chick walking funny, or limping, pick them up and have a look.

Quite right! I've seen a couple that had human hair wrapped pretty tight around their toes or legs. It's also possible for them to get such things wrapped around their tongues.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

This thread shows what can happen when a bird eats twine, string, hair, etc.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1140657/new-cockerel-with-excessive-saliva-and-yellow-on-tongue

Warning - somewhat graphic pictures, but it does have a happy ending!

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

Our chickens loved to roam in the garden once we were done harvesting so we made sure to not use chemicals when we gardened.

Also, recently there was a distraught post from someone about their chicken getting into rat poison that had been set out. So important to keep poisons out of any place a chicken might find it. Those little dickens can get into everything!

Good points about chemicals and poisons! Mechanical traps are also something to use very carefully.

-Kathy

 

[JanetMarie]

If you have chickens that like to follow you into the garage, do a thorough walk through to make sure no one gets locked in. Check in deep barrels used for trash also. Some like to jump and fly onto high places, then get trapped when jumping back down.

 

[casportpony]

Hay bales... Speaking from experience, remember to stack your hay bales nice and tight.

Poorly stacked with lots of spaces for fowl to get stuck in.


Properly stacked:


-Kathy

 

[N F C]

Maybe, but the only 2 who had bumblefoot in my small flock roosted on the roost that wore down

.



And never, never place feed or treats on a paper plate

. They will shred it and eat the plate.

Just like my cats!

 

[Radena]

Cyclone fence. Lost my favorite hen. Pecking at something on the other side of fence too low. Caught her behind the head in the V. In a panic She broke her neck. It was kinda a freak accident.

 

[lilmillefleur]

Make sure you are positive you got healthy birds from a reputable source.

It might turn into a serious problem.

 

[hooktontravel]

a friend of mine is a teacher who took home the chicks hatched at school in the classroom over the weekend... and one of them somehow picked up a hair and it was WRAPPED AROUND HIS TONGUE. It was starting to cut off circulation when she figured out & got it to the emergency vet to have them help because she & her husband couldn't hold the chick still and figure how to unwrap the hair. so, pretty scary and they ended up with a $50 vet visit bill for a $2 chicken. and i don't think that one is on most peoples' lists of dangers!

 

[AmieD]

I'm sure every experienced chicken keeper knows this, but... If you use bands on your chicks, check them. I bought an older chick from a backyard breeder and he forgot to check for the bands. It had grown into her leg. My husband and I tried several tools and finally got it off with fingernail clippers. I soaked her wound in epsom salts and water and she healed.

I did not secure my garden properly and my chickens went under the fence. I had some bird netting over my strawberry plants and one got stuck under the bird netting. She is a Crested Cream Legbar and had a beautiful crest. Her flock mates got to her and scalped her - no more crest and no skin. I thought she was dead for sure, but I treated her and she fine now and has even regrown her crest.