The Poultry Keeper

chrislee765 · Joined: 09 Oct 2005 Posts: 47 Location: Hayling Island

Percy'Vere (the hen at the top of the pecking order) suffers from frostbite. We've been putting vaseline on her comb to help combat the frostbite.

To do this we turn her upside down by her legs and put the vaseline on the comb. She always flaps and struggles when we pick her up and when we put her down.

Now she avoids me, even when i have treats (which makes it hard to catch her.) Am i doing right? She seems really unhappy afaik is eating and drinking fine though.
Today i have started the hens on a course of flubenvet, as they are due for a worm.

Am I being too soft, or shall i lay off for a bit. Whats best in her interest?
Thanks

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

errrmm

Couldn't you just have wrapped her (right way up) in an old towel to stop her flapping around when applying the vaseline>?

chrislee765 · Joined: 09 Oct 2005 Posts: 47 Location: Hayling Island

I hadnt thought of this, i guess it wont be as stressful. Ill give it ago tomorrow Smile

NannyP · Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2005 6:35 pm Post subject:

If you hung me upside down each day, I'd be pretty p***ed off with you and would even go as far as to refuse chocolate Laughing

Oops. Sorry peeps, more ads for chocolate coming up Embarassed

Aussie Chick · Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2005 10:03 pm Post subject:

I agree! just try gentle patting and a cuddle while applying the vaseline.

chrislee765 · Joined: 09 Oct 2005 Posts: 47 Location: Hayling Island

I feel really mean now though. Crying or Very sad

I only turned her upside down because thats what the woman suggested i could do when i got them, she said it was fine to hold them upside down (when she carried the hens to my car they were all upside down).

I hope i havnt been verging on the edge of cruelty. I would say ill give her an extra treat tomorrow but they get way too many is atm Wink

Oh well ive learnt a lesson from it. Ill apologise to her tomorrow and def try the towel idea.

To add to my list of cruelty... i murdered a pheasent today. I was on the way back from the chicken shop getting some supplies when a pheasent walked out on we on the motorway. I couldnt do anything apart from just carry on, without endagering me and other motorists. I couldnt stop, i pulled into the next layby though... i felt physically sick. First time ive ever killed an animal.

I better watch my back.. might have the rspca onto me Sad

1 Chicken Smuggler · Joined: 11 Dec 2005 Posts: 178

In my opinion , if it counts for anything.You should wait until she goes to roost or is in her nest ,pick her ( or any chicken) and hold her in one arm with your hand supporting the breast,then apply the Vaseline with the other hand,talk to her is a low soft voice to keep her calm.When done continue holding her and feed her some snacks,like grapes or better yet raisins,then put her back from where you got her.
As far as turning her upside down,only do it when checking the vent or applying mite and lice treatment to the vent area and where the wings join the body.NEVER put a rooster on his back , they have different mind sets than hens ,long story but I would advise against it.

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

I was going to suggest the same thing ~ pick her up at night and hold her close to you ~ use a towel if she's a big girl as sometimes it's a bit difficult to keep hold if they don't want to be held.
Hope she calms down again for you ~ I'm sure she won't hold it against you forever ~ just give her a few extra treats as you treat her.

fenwoman · Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2005 12:30 am Post subject:

it isn't alright to carry them upside down. I know a lot of people do but especially in the large fowl like cochins, orpingtons and the like this means all t heir internal organs start to press on their heart and lungs meaning they cannot breath and it can actually cause heart attack.
It also puts strain on thieir legs and joints.
You will have some making up to do to get this bird to trust you. I suggest sitting with the bird on your lap and gently stroke the ear holes. All of mine go into a daze of pleasure when I do it.
I have moved my show quality leghorn bantams into the aviary block for the winter because of the danger to 'Giovanni's' large comb and wattles. It is heated and lit in there so never drops below freezing.
It is so nice in there my buff leghorns are still laying, the gold laced frizzled polish are laying and the modern game bantams have come into lay too. I am fighting hard to stop myself getting one of the incubators out of storage and setting it up.
Arrgghhhh..................must.........................resist.......................... Wink

NannyP · Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2005 8:36 am Post subject:

Don't feel bad though, you were doing what you thought was right. It's only cruel when you know it is Very Happy

She'll soon forget Wink

Ben · Moderator Joined: 17 Apr 2005 Posts: 1346

fenwoman · Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2005 2:03 pm Post subject:

poultry poofs · Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2005 2:22 pm Post subject:

There's no need to carry chickens by their feet,not that its particularly cruel its just not necessary.As chickensmuggler points out if you sit the chicken with the breast in the palm of your hand and its legs between your fingers its head facing your upper arm you can do just about anything with them and especially at night when they are more calm its just a case of gaining the birds confidence that it will feel safe when handled and not freak out the minute you go near it.
rich

poultry poofs · Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2005 2:51 pm Post subject:

If its any consolation I have been to many well known breeders and poultry centres and they (or more relevently their staff -usually young inexperienced kids or miserable old men) nearly all pick up and carry their chickens by the legs.If you go abroad it seems pretty well the done thing so I wouldnt beat yourself up over the way you handled the bird just be more enlightened and try other ways and you will learn whats best.
It comes from experience and unfortunately there are two forms of experience.
type one -you can learn and adapt to changing methods and mistakes and be a competent experienced person
type two -you can spend a lifetime doing the same thing you've always done without adaptation or trial and make the same mistakes time and time again and learn absolutely nothing.
So when someone says "oh I've always done it this way" or "i've been in the business 30 years and you cant tell me anything" ......be very dubious, Confused

if you learn everything there is to know from your own reading or listening to others and make your own mind up and elect for what makes sense you cant go far wrong

1 Chicken Smuggler · Joined: 11 Dec 2005 Posts: 178

poultry poofs,gives you good advise there.He prefers holding the chicken facing towards you,which is fine and nothing wrong with that.I prefer to pick up my chickens ,hold them a safe distance from my face when checking them on the front and turn the chicken as needed.Whenever I am administering medicine orally or working on their combs or face area , I tuck the rear end of the chicken under one arm and support his /her breast in my palm and have their legs on each side of my arm, with the chicken looking in the same direction I am.I do this ,because it is a bit safer if the chicken doesn`t want to be handles and also because if the chicken is close to your face--you could get pecked in the eye--but facing away from you ,there is no chance of that happening.It is all preference and neither method is wrong--holding them upside down and or by the feet is wrong.