Update on Abigail & Henrietta!

[Linda V]

Promised I'd give an update in a few weeks on their legs/feet after having treated them both for Scaly Leg Mites.

I'm pleased to report they are both doing very nicely.

They both had veggie oil dips @ 5 mins each X 8; 3 applications of NuStock and will get their feet/legs coated with Vaseline until I'm sure this is over! NuStock isn't needed anymore.

NOTE! I decided to find out for myself WHAT exactly was inside that nasty growth on Abby's foot, so the last time we did a NuStock treatment, I gently snipped off the end of it and just as I suspected...it was dead, compressed matter and she didn't feel a thing! I continued to snip a tiny bit off until she reacted and then stopped!

I'm hoping the Vaseline will make that thing go away eventually as it's just not "natural" for a hen to have that on her leg!

Still using Poultry Dust, DE and Permethrin in and around the coop, and
feeding them FEATHER FIXER until it's gone and we go back to Layena pellets again.

I am also happy to announce that Henrietta is no longer "Miss bare butt!" She has looked dreadful for almost a year so it's great to see her looking so pretty again!

Since we began handling them, they are much calmer now, so we have extra fun with on weekends when we sit in our lawn chairs while they free roam in our large, fenced-in yard!

They stay close to the coop, cove and us so that plus our watching over them every second, no worries about hawks!

Here are some pics of the girls together from Labor Day....

Linda V in NC
Sept. 12, 2017

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

Awww.
They look so, so much better.

 

[Linda V]

Awww.
They look so, so much better.

Why, thank you so much! I'll tell them you said that...lol!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi Linda V

They are looking great! Thank you for taking the time to update and provide photos. You have done well in taking care of them.

Now....handling those girls wasn't so bad was it They have a way of wiggling into your heart. I'm sure with this experience under your belt, you will be able to handle anything that comes your way.

 

[Linda V]

Thanks for your kind (and true) words...lol!

Do you think you could answer this question for me since it's kinda lame and I didn't want to put it on the public forum...

I really WANT to be able to put the Vaseline on their legs MYSELF without any help from my hubby. I can catch them and hold them "football" style and calm them down but how can I do their legs/feet with the V without risking their safety and well being. I cannot let them fall to the ground!

I would do it inside their large, fenced-in cove and I could sit down or stand, but I'm wondering how this can be done without someone to hold them for me while I treat their legs. John could just stand there holding her in his arms while I did her feet/legs, but do you know of anyone who does this alone?

Sorry, to bother you with this...but there is nothing on the web or here to help me figure this one out!

Linda in NC
9/12/17

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It depends on how wiggly they are...There are a few ways to apply the vaseline - holding them football style with legs hanging down, IF they are docile and not struggling - then just grease them up I've done this with my very large rooster - he had a small scrape on his leg and I would apply ointment to it daily - I just hold him up and slather it on, but he is calm and used to being handled a lot.

For feistier hens - if I need to do something with them - I actually have a work bench (table) that I use - they will stand much better and more calmly than being held in both arms - this also allows you better control and you won't fear dropping them.

 

[17 chickens]

Oh the girls look so much better and very happy! Great job!!

 

[Linda V]

It depends on how wiggly they are...There are a few ways to apply the vaseline - holding them football style with legs hanging down, IF they are docile and not struggling - then just grease them up I've done this with my very large rooster - he had a small scrape on his leg and I would apply ointment to it daily - I just hold him up and slather it on, but he is calm and used to being handled a lot.

For feistier hens - if I need to do something with them - I actually have a work bench (table) that I use - they will stand much better and more calmly than being held in both arms - this also allows you better control and you won't fear dropping them.

Great! Now I know this can be done by one person alone...but I'm not clear on what will make Henrietta stand still or not start flapping her wings in a desperate attempt to escape! She HATES being picked up, handled, or anything else for that matter.

Abigail is EZPZ to catch, hold, handle etc., but Henrietta...no way! I often call her "Henrietta the Hun" even though I love them both like two daughters...
...they are not the same at all, which frankly makes them both even more special!

I can at least try to follow your excellent advice with Abby, but I'm a bitt fuzzy on how YOU kept your feisty hen from going out of control when you let her stand up on the workbench while you coated her feet & legs!

Do you think I should take an old hand towel (longer, narrow) and put some
velcro strips on it so I can "swaddle" Henrietta in that to keep her wings down and then let her stand up on the table?

I will stand when she's on the table, however, but I pretty much only have one hand to control her from jumping off and running away and the other hand to apply the Vaseline.

Sorry this is getting so complicated, but Henrietta must be treated every time Abby gets treated - I just can't risk those mites coming back!

Answer when you have time and again THANKS SO MUCH!!!

PHOTOS OF ABBY'S LEGS BEFORE 8 OIL DIPS:
I learned after posting this on BYC, the growth was a "mite mound"...kind of like a termite mound and she had that on her when we got her in July, 2016!

NOW A PHOTO OF HER A FEW WEEKS AGO AFTER THE 8 OIL TREATMENTS (5 mins each) AND TWO APPLICATIONS OF NU-STOCK. Her legs/feet look better than this now - as the dead scales have fallen off but that "mite mound" is still there which is another reason for my wanting to do the V treatments....

Let me know please how you controlled your hen standing on the bench with only one hand...this I gotta hear!
Bye for now!
Linda in NC
9/13/17

 

[Wyorp Rock]

If she is that jumpy, then it may be best to swaddle her.

My work bench is about waist high, so I do pull the hen into my body and "hold" against my body with one arm -but she has her legs under her (standing on the table) - I have couple that just go nuts if you try to football hold them, but they do pretty well if they are standing - even though I have them somewhat captive. Make sense?

 

[Linda V]

Yeah...that does make sense now that I could visualize it! I think I'll have to resort to Plan B for Henrietta, however. I do not want these weekly treatments to ruin the nice bond we have now. Same with Abby. I'll try doing Abby's feet by myself but I'll catch H., have John hold her football style and will apply the V to her legs during that time. We can do it in the cove so when we're done he can set her down softly to run off and complain to Abby...lol!

They always act like it's the end when I go after them, but an hour later - they act like it never happened...so weird! Guess you have to have shoulders to carry a chip on, right?

Tell ya what! I'll try this with Abby, and will let you know how it turned out and then how it turned out with Henrietta! Who knows, maybe she'll surprise me!

Again..you've been more than kind and helpful and I truly appreciated this!

ps: John & I spend all our Xmas's in the GSM of TN (Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge & Sevierville but also spend at least a few days every year at Maggie Valley! Love them mountains...lol!

Linda in NC
9/13/17