What did you do with your flock today?

[Shetland lover]

First Ever Chicken Medical Emergency!

I was spending some time sitting outside the run watching the birds this evening and saw that one of the pullet's beaks was red. Looking closer, saw it was blood dripping down from the comb.

I watched for a while to see if it would stop and maybe clear up, but it didn't. And then some of the others saw it and started pecking at the injury. Not good.

I went into the run and quickly grabbed the injured bird. I surprised myself being able to subdue it like that! Carried it into the house, smeared some triple-antibiotic ointment all over the injury and comb.

Luckily the nice coop I built is unoccupied, so I got her set up with food, water and grit. Plus I dumped in a wheel barrow load of fresh semi-composted woodchips for her to scratch around in and walk on, since that's what she's used to.

I'll leave her segregated for however long it takes to heal completely. Should probably smear on more ointment every day for the next few days.

She can still see and talk to the other birds through a mesh wall, so she won't get too lonely. And now she has the highest roost spot of all, so I guess that'll make her feel a little better. LOL

I just wonder how the injury happened? It's like the comb ripped right where it starts on the back of the head. Maybe another chicken pecked her there? Guess I'll never know. I'm just glad I was out there when I was. She might have gotten ganged up on if I wasn't.

When we had our Swedish Flower roo, Leo, Gladys ripped half of a wattle off. He was annoying her. I've never seen so much blood! After a good clean up and dusting with antibiotic powder he was right as rain!
It was probably something similar with your girl. Could be an inexperienced roo has grabbed the comb while attempting to mate?
You might find some of your pullet's comb dries up and falls off at the injury site if the edges aren't held together but it should heal fine. She might just end up with a slightly wonky comb.

 

[Shetland lover]

Spent some time being a roost for my new bantam cochin girls! They are so sweet and cute! And the black one is incredibly tiny!

How lovely! They are such charming chickens, my bantam cochin are all real characters. I have a tiny girl too - no bigger than a racing pigeon and she's fully grown!

 

[ChicksnMore]

I had to share a couple pictures I took last night. I’ve slowly been naming the new babies I’m keeping.

It struck me last night that my frizzled Satin looks a lot like a pine cone So after much discussion we settled on Brillo as her name
View attachment 3574700
A couple of my more creative names—
Leggy, is for my bantam blue Ameraucana rooster. He’s all legs right now, almost looks like a game chicken in this teen stage!
View attachment 3574703
And Leaky, is for my black bantam Ameraucana rooster who has a LOT of gold leakage.
View attachment 3574704
And last, I have mentioned her before, but Peggy “Peg leg” is doing amazing. Youd never know she has no toes on one foot. She has the most inquisitive and friendly personality and the very best little beard I just love her spunky spirit!

View attachment 3574708

All such cuties! That picture of Peggy's so cute...what a doll!

 

[ChicksnMore]

I have a question.

As I was dumping the last third of a bag of feed into the feeder this morning I wondered if feeding containers get invaded with bugs of some kind, even with the food being completely dry. Maybe some kind of grain weevils or something?

Should feeders be totally emptied and cleaned every so often?

Thanks

I get weevils in the trashcan I use to store the food for filling the feeders. I do clean it in between fills but they turn back up periodically .

 

[ChicksnMore]

My chickens were just too cute this morning not to share.View attachment 3575010View attachment 3575011
Had to head down the mountain to do flower business- plus lots of other stuff.
I got my cameras all set up so can spy the gang. Forest is on guard duty but if my bike has less gas in it when i get back, he is going to be grounded for at least a little while.View attachment 3575015

Good luck grounding him!

 

[ChicksnMore]

Today I sat with my baby duckling Darcy! I am so amitten!

Such a happy Darcy

 

[ChicksnMore]

First Ever Chicken Medical Emergency!

I was spending some time sitting outside the run watching the birds this evening and saw that one of the pullet's beaks was red. Looking closer, saw it was blood dripping down from the comb.

I watched for a while to see if it would stop and maybe clear up, but it didn't. And then some of the others saw it and started pecking at the injury. Not good.

I went into the run and quickly grabbed the injured bird. I surprised myself being able to subdue it like that! Carried it into the house, smeared some triple-antibiotic ointment all over the injury and comb.

Luckily the nice coop I built is unoccupied, so I got her set up with food, water and grit. Plus I dumped in a wheel barrow load of fresh semi-composted woodchips for her to scratch around in and walk on, since that's what she's used to.

I'll leave her segregated for however long it takes to heal completely. Should probably smear on more ointment every day for the next few days.

She can still see and talk to the other birds through a mesh wall, so she won't get too lonely. And now she has the highest roost spot of all, so I guess that'll make her feel a little better. LOL

I just wonder how the injury happened? It's like the comb ripped right where it starts on the back of the head. Maybe another chicken pecked her there? Guess I'll never know. I'm just glad I was out there when I was. She might have gotten ganged up on if I wasn't.

Well done! Chickens can be a bit brutal on wounds but you fixed her right up

 

[ChicksnMore]

Spent some time being a roost for my new bantam cochin girls! They are so sweet and cute! And the black one is incredibly tiny!

Such cuties! Looks like they already know who fills the feeder

 

[ChicksnMore]

She certainly sounds like she's improving and she's definitely in the best possible hands. MS doesn't always display any other symptoms than the hot swellings. Occasionally, birds go on to develop respiratory symptoms.
I'm *thinking* that birds with lots of recessive genes (more likely to be inbred and less genetic diversity) are more prone to infection than more genetically diverse chickens. I haven't found anything to back this up in the scientific papers but my course tutor agrees there's empirical evidence of this.
Your soil WILL contain e.coli as, as I'm sure you know, all soil does. The question is, is it proliferating excessively in your soil? The lime should certainly make conditions less favourable to any bacterium, virus etc.
You could try adding a gentle diuretic if you suspect kidney issues. I have used a custom blend available over here but you could just use a tincture of dandelion or moringia powder? Take a look at this on Poultry DVM:
Genetics - certain chicken breeds have been identified to have a simple autosomal recessive gene that causes a defect in the renal tubular secretion of urate.

See more at: https://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/gout

Unfortunately there's no further information as to which spcific genes and breeds are disproportionately affected.
Does she like cherries? My dad suffered badly with gout and he swore by cherry juice! There have been studies where it has been found to be clinically effective.

Let me know how she's doing. I'll keep everything crossed for her.

I would so love to have you as a neighbor! Several of you ladies in fact!

 

[ChicksnMore]

Haven't been feeling too good lately so not much to share other then it's hot. I feel like Robin Williams in Good Morning Vietnam. Everything comes back to 'its hot, it's staying hot and then there's more hot' right now.