What to keep in stock for poultry keeping - A list

Country Squire said:
I've heard that spraying WD40 amongst other things on scaly leg works. I've never tried this in 15yrs of keeping poultry.

Does this actually work?
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:-)07
Jubes.
 
I'm not sure that WD40 is a good idea, its just a petroleum distillate, isn't it? would that be a healthy thing to put on chickens? Just my two pence, like.
 
All of the items (but a few) I have in my storage/feed shed, what a brilliant list especially for people who have just got into the fancy
Dan
 
I've been using a lot of Micropore surgical tape recently on hens feet. Half inch wide is not readily available on the shelves of the Chemist, but they usually have some in stock behind the counter -£1.08 for 5 metres. It is quite sticky, goes between the toes easily, is thin and easily cut, absorbs little water but is quite durable. Had it stay in position on an injury to the bottom of a foot for a week. Easy to cut off and change the dressing as well. Just cut pieces to fit between the toes and 1" up the leg and finished with a wrap round all the ends. If the piece between the toes is crunched up first so it doesn't restrict their movement they leave it alone and don't peck it off.
 
Great list for a newbie like me! All jotted down in my lil notebook (going for my girls next Tuesday!)
 
The list mentions Hibiscrub - I have some left over from an operation I had and had been going to throw it away when the vet said to use it on a chicken wound. It's 4% - should it be used neat or diluted? And should it be rinsed off - the instructions (for humans) says you should go to A&E if you get it in your mouth, so wondering what would happen if a chicken preened itself after it was applied??
 
elmdene said:
The list mentions Hibiscrub - I have some left over from an operation I had and had been going to throw it away when the vet said to use it on a chicken wound. It's 4% - should it be used neat or diluted? And should it be rinsed off - the instructions (for humans) says you should go to A&E if you get it in your mouth, so wondering what would happen if a chicken preened itself after it was applied??
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diluted, just enough to make the water pink and don't use it with cotton wool as it makes it useless. i use it as a rinse or a soak, depending on if the skin is oily, mucosa or scaly depends on if i rinse it off. it tends to dry skin out. nothing would happen if it was ingested in a tiny diluted amount. but it's not very nice tasting. if it was ingested neet, it might not be so nice kills all bacteria! not so good... bit like drinking formaldehyde! :-)11 :-)03
 
Oops - I have been dabbing it on with cotton wool so will stop that. The stuff I have is actually called Hydrex, but I assume this is the same as Hibiscrub? It is chlorhexidine gluconate 4%. Does Septicleanse, which I also have, have the same sort of effect (apart from being purple)?
 
elmdene said:
Oops - I have been dabbing it on with cotton wool so will stop that. The stuff I have is actually called Hydrex, but I assume this is the same as Hibiscrub? It is chlorhexidine gluconate 4%. Does Septicleanse, which I also have, have the same sort of effect (apart from being purple)?
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I would personally mix the hibi with some warm water, just enough to make the water pink (there should be a dilution rate on bottle) and syringe or pour it on the wound or let it soak. then rinse with fresh warm water if need be. if it were on the eyes or mouth i would not use hibi, i would just use a saline solution and leave to dry. maybe get something like optrex for eyes. Septicleanse has violet in it i believe. best sprayed on and left to dry. but i wouldn't use it on eyes, mouth or bums(hibi can be used on bums though!) So depends on where and what the wound is :)
 
elmdene said:
Oops - I have been dabbing it on with cotton wool so will stop that. The stuff I have is actually called Hydrex, but I assume this is the same as Hibiscrub? It is chlorhexidine gluconate 4%. Does Septicleanse, which I also have, have the same sort of effect (apart from being purple)?
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oh and vet friend of mine sent me this...apparently my head nurse was wrong when i was training! lol sorry for the misinformation. :D http://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/articles/2008/06/chlorhexidine-gluconate-myths-busted.aspx so ignore cotton wool 'myth' apparently! :oops:
 
Thanks for the info - the particular wound in question at the moment is on the foot, but most instructions seem to apply to bald footed chickens, not pekins which I have, where soaking the foot results in lots of soggy feathers! For that reason, Septicleanse is easier because you can direct it better.
 
Bertie & The Chooks said:
jubilee said:
Used neat it can stop bleeding in cuts.

JubesXX
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:shock: OUCH!!! have you ever had vinegar in a cut?? I think i will pass on that personally sorry! I'll stick to a bit of corn flour if you don't have a styptic powder with some benzocaine in it!

just to add for wounds, bumble and other skin irritations Calendula oil or cream is brill!
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hi,
when i was a builders labourer years ago we used to use powdered cement as it dried the blood instantly, i certainly wouldn't recommend it though as it bloody hurt lol.

anyway i was thinking along the lines of savlon cream as its cheap, comes in a handy tube and can be kept to hand.
 
Frenchchickens123 said:
Hi Elmwood, I have bought seaweed to give my chickens I cannot say weather it is any good because I bought it off ebay and they delivered the wrong stuff and well I had to go back home to France so my mum is bringing it with her in a few weeks :) It is supposed to have all the known minerals and vitamins on earth in it and is meant to boost their immune system, its a bit more natural than the supplement you put in thier water. Bought 20kg for 30 quid which should last a long long time, although you can get it in smaller amounts, hope this helps a bit?
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seaweed is full of iron,vitamins, minerals and is a natural source of iodine plus it contains all sorts of goodness.
i actually collected an entire black heavy duty bag full from paignton beach the day after a storm, took it to the allotment and dried it and fed to my birds after 5 days of sun drying, unfortunately they were not the slightest bit interested, although i imagine if its dried out even more it should go powdery and be able to be crushed down and left in a container for them to peck at as they wish.
 
simon+colette said:
seaweed is full of iron,vitamins, minerals and is a natural source of iodine plus it contains all sorts of goodness.
i actually collected an entire black heavy duty bag full from paignton beach the day after a storm, took it to the allotment and dried it and fed to my birds after 5 days of sun drying, unfortunately they were not the slightest bit interested, although i imagine if its dried out even more it should go powdery and be able to be crushed down and left in a container for them to peck at as they wish.
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My birds get dried seaweed twice a week - I use the one for horses - they love it. I mix it into their mash and the whole lot disappears very quickly! It's quite a fine, - meal I suppose you could call it. It can be pricey, but last a hang of a long time!
 
Hi Caroline and welcome to the Forum. Not sure what you mean by Dillisk, what's it for?
Also, if you feed pellets rather than mash, there will be much less waste. Where are you, ie are you in the UK?
 
Hi Marigold

Dillisk is a seaweed.

No, I did live in the UK, but I've recently moved to rural Ireland.

We don't have any hens yet, but hope to in the next week or so. This forum has been invaluable for all the information so far.

Pellets it is.

Many thanks
Carol
 
Seaweed sounds fine, just a sprinkle if you feel they need it, but generally speaking if you feed a good quality food it will contain all the vitamins and minerals a healthy hen needs. People often give supplements at times of stress such as when they're moulting or otherwise under the weather. Pellets are better than mash because with mash they tend to pick out the bits they like and scatter the rest. With pellets they eat it all and get the most benefit.
 
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