The Poultry Keeper

woollylegs · Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 84 Location: North Kent

3 days ago, my recently bought in cross maran/spekledy developed a slightly swollen pad.
I dug out what looked like- at the time, a stone- no bleeding- just a small perfectly round hole- left a couple of mm's diameter.
Since then, each day, I have been cleaning out this hole (it stays clean anyway) with the tip of my pen knife, wash with salt water and put some tea tree oil/water on/in it and during this cleaning process, I remove a small amount of brown crustiness.
The pad is more swollen than 3 days ago- it is slightly red and hot.
She eats and drinks fine and limps a bit and holds it up sometimes. She lets me clean it out fine.
Someone suggested a poultice. Can anyone tell me what and how I do this?
Any help would be great- I will cull her if she becomes unwell but at present, she seems OK and I would like to know if I can do anything else

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3455 Location: Monmouthshire

Kaolin poultice. Looks and smells like grey chewing gum, but being earth, can be washed off easily. It can be used hot or cold (cold is easier with chicken) and can be bought almost anywhere that sells 'horsey' stuff, in 500gr tubs. At the same time get some of the stretchy bandaging that sticks to itself. Half width is the easiest thing to use for binding anything on a chicken's foot. Change the poultice every 24 hours until she's healed. Been there, done that, and it works.

woollylegs · Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 84 Location: North Kent

- thanks Henwife- much appreciated. Hen is no better- no worse and this is day 4.
I asked a local man who has worked on the land all his life and has kept hens (he dispatched my lovely Amber Star when she prolapsed) and he has looked at this "entry wound" and we are, at present "packing" it with salt. I clean the hole twice daily with my penknife and salt water and re-pack it. If this doesn't help, he suggested a sterile needle- to release the build up of "gunge" in the pad- if you put your nose very close to the hole, it doesn't smell nice.
I asked him about a poultice and interestingly, he said (old wives tale reputed to work..) a piece of cabbage leaf applied to the area. He was searching for some Stockholm Tar (no luck though) to apply as a poultice.
Now I have heard from you, I will buy the Kaolin poultice (is it what, as kids, my Mum had in for a "runny tum" ie diarrhoea?). I ask this as I haven't heard the word Kaolin for years and you saying this has brought back memories of the stuff (was it a thickish off-cream-coloured stuff that tasted like chalk...?).
- off at dawn to the local horsey barn to buy- will let you know how I get on and it's great that you have experienced this also- what would I do without this forum!!??
Cheers.