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I guess I should let everyone know that I replaced the cedar shavings today with pine. I also wanted to mention that the only reason I bought the cedar to begin with was because that's what the obviously untrained employee at TSC sold me when I got the chicks. I had pine in the coop itself that I borrowed from my Granddaughter's rabbit. The cedar was in part of the outside run. It's gone now...so no worries. Thanks for letting me know. My chicks free range for most of the day, so they didn't spend much time on the cedar. They are locked in the coop at night and only had pine in there. I'm new to all of this....so I appreciate those of you who let me know it wasn't good.
 
You're welcome, although I apologize for not bringing it up right away. I've had 12 babies hatch today, and lost one of my sweetest hens to an unknown predator. It has been hectic around here, and that's just the events with the chickens!
 
carcar80 said:
Oh no!! Can you splint her little feet open with some cardboard and tape, or something like others have posted? That's about all I can think of but I would definitely give her more time. I'm so sorry, that's just awful. :(
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When I checked on her this morning she seemed to be trying on her own and was kinda flopping about. I let her keep trying and this afternoon she is walking a bit but favoring one leg. She seems to be regaining the ability to move her claws. One leg is almost normal and the other is nowhere near as bad as yesterday. I think I'm going to let her continue mending on her own. She doesn't seem to be in pain and she doesn't mind me moving her legs or claws. If she's not walking correctly by tomorrow afternoon I'm going to splint her little foot and see if it helps.
 
oh it's fine...someone on another thread had already mentioned it. I actually got a couple of posts that were pretty rude in telling me not to use cedar. I would never intentionally do anything to cause harm to these chicks....I just bought what they suggested at TSC before I even joined BYC. I hadn't planned to use anything on the ground itself, but we put welded 2x4 wire on the bottom of the run and I didn't want any issues with little feet getting stuck or caught up in the wire. I spent most of my day in the run today and got all of the cedar shaving out and put pine down, so they are safe now. I'm sorry to hear about your hen. I had my chicks in the 20x20 run that isn't connected to their coop/run today and worried about them the whole time they were in there. I feel much better when they are in the coop/run that has hardware cloth than when they are in the dog pen with nothing except the chain link wire itself. I stay out with them when they are in there so I can be sure they are safe. It got hot here today though and they were more than ready to go back to their coop. My biggest fear is our lab...she is such a good dog, but I know she wants a chicken...BAD! I make her stay inside when they are in the run.....she can't be trusted:)
 
Missyktsm said:
When I checked on her this morning she seemed to be trying on her own and was kinda flopping about. I let her keep trying and this afternoon she is walking a bit but favoring one leg. She seems to be regaining the ability to move her claws. One leg is almost normal and the other is nowhere near as bad as yesterday. I think I'm going to let her continue mending on her own. She doesn't seem to be in pain and she doesn't mind me moving her legs or claws. If she's not walking correctly by tomorrow afternoon I'm going to splint her little foot and see if it helps.
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I had something similar happen to one of our ducks that may help you feel better about her chances and/or understand what could be wrong.

Friday before work, I went out to check on everyone before getting in the car to leave. A quick glance said they were fine, but as I walked away, I heard something hitting the side of the pen. It was only once or twice and everyone appeared fine and relaxed so I left.

When I came home, I went to let the ducks and geese out but noticed one duck missing. Then I heard that noise of something hitting the side again - same exact spot as the morning. I had been gone for 10 hours.

Turns out a duck had crawled between their shelter and the side of the pen (which is made of sheet metal) and got stuck. One foot was under her, one behind her, and she was covered in mud from flopping around trying to get out! When I got her out and set her down, she couldn't walk.

Her legs had fallen asleep from sitting in an odd position like that so long. Ten hours, at least. When she stood, she would fall over and flop around to get back up. Finally I just put her next to food and water where she laid down to eat and drink.

It took another three or four hours until she could actually kinda stand, and another day or so until she could walk without a noticeable limp. But now that she has full blood flow in the leg again, she is even running just fine.

Between this recent issue, the way it sounds like your chick got stuck, and the fact that you said she doesn't act like she's in pain, I'm thinking this might be what you're dealing with. Remember, lack of bloodflow to a limb makes it numb, not painful. And with her feet being in the air, I bet the blood definitely drained from those legs!
 
cindy parker said:
oh it's fine...someone on another thread had already mentioned it. I actually got a couple of posts that were pretty rude in telling me not to use cedar. I would never intentionally do anything to cause harm to these chicks....I just bought what they suggested at TSC before I even joined BYC. I hadn't planned to use anything on the ground itself, but we put welded 2x4 wire on the bottom of the run and I didn't want any issues with little feet getting stuck or caught up in the wire. I spent most of my day in the run today and got all of the cedar shaving out and put pine down, so they are safe now. I'm sorry to hear about your hen. I had my chicks in the 20x20 run that isn't connected to their coop/run today and worried about them the whole time they were in there. I feel much better when they are in the coop/run that has hardware cloth than when they are in the dog pen with nothing except the chain link wire itself. I stay out with them when they are in there so I can be sure they are safe. It got hot here today though and they were more than ready to go back to their coop. My biggest fear is our lab...she is such a good dog, but I know she wants a chicken...BAD! I make her stay inside when they are in the run.....she can't be trusted:)
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We have that issue here with an Australian Shepherd mix. He just wants to play, but chickens can't play at his level! Lol!
 
cindy parker said:
I guess I should let everyone know that I replaced the cedar shavings today with pine. I also wanted to mention that the only reason I bought the cedar to begin with was because that's what the obviously untrained employee at TSC sold me when I got the chicks. I had pine in the coop itself that I borrowed from my Granddaughter's rabbit. The cedar was in part of the outside run. It's gone now...so no worries. Thanks for letting me know. My chicks free range for most of the day, so they didn't spend much time on the cedar. They are locked in the coop at night and only had pine in there. I'm new to all of this....so I appreciate those of you who let me know it wasn't good.
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I didnt even notice but I've not been reading through posts really, just scanning. Good to know you got that fixed. Good chicken mommy!
 
RoboDuck said:
Why people gotta be rude? Just help folks out. I brought it up so the experts could weigh in. I just knew it was bad but couldn't remember exactly why. But some of the chicken snobs can't just give friendly advice.
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There really is no sense in being rude, I agree. I only found out that cedar is toxic because I had a guinea pig when I was younger and was told that cedar is toxic to ALMOST ANY animal because of the fumes from the oils.
 

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