Hello steemians! Ola! Now we have found that during the winter months whilst there is very little sunlight getting on the girls, the dreaded mite start to work on the chickens' legs causing scaly leg. These little mites burrow under the skin of the girls' legs and feet, and once they have penetrated they feed from the exposed tissue causing the scales to push upwards. This is very painful and tender for the poor girls and over a matter of time the leg becomes very rough and sore, eventually causing lameness if untreated. There are several different solutions on the market to help get rid of these pests, however the best remedy could be in your bathroom cabinet. Vaseline is probably the most common preventive and cure; personally I prefer using Diprobase, which is available from your chemist for the use of dry skin conditions on humans (please don't tell the chemist it's for chickens though!). Diprobase absorbs into the skin a lot easier than vaseline and as it is not so tacky as Vaseline, the dust and dirt does not build up on it. Diprobase will also help with the repair of damaged skin and scales. If the girls' legs are very scaly then gently rubbing in some vegetable oil over the entire area, paying special attention to between the toes, will help to suffocate the little blighters causing the problem. Please DO NOT use White Spirits as this can cause the poor girls unnecessary suffering. Prevention is better than cure and taking the same precautions as you would with red mite, paying particular attention to the perches, will pay dividends. Give the coop a good scrub down with Poultry Shield, then a dusting down with Diatom or similar products once a fortnight should do the trick. A dust bath with Diatom mixed with sand or ash during the winter months will also help to keep the girls mite free.
Now please do not take this as scaremongering as I am simply keeping you informed of the latest situation with Bird Flu. It was a year ago when a few cases were confirmed here in the UK; currently the disease risk is medium for wild birds and low for domestic fowl, but as the migration of wild birds is in full swing until February we need to be vigilant. Many migrating birds pass through countries where there is still a problem - the latest problem areas being in the Netherlands and a few in Germany. Compared with this time last year the risks are a lot lower, fingers crossed!
As the family enjoys the festive season with lots to eat and drink, please remember the cunning foxes and badgers are looking for an easy dinner. This time of year the chickens and ducks tend to be forgotten about, especially when everyone in the house is over-indulging. It's amazing how many poultry are taken during this period, so please make sure you don't forget to shut them up early in the evening. Of course, they do enjoy the left-over Brussels sprouts, but not too many as they will be spurting out more than eggs from their rear ends, and what's left on the floor will encourage the rats and mice into the coop.
Water, or the lack of it, can cause problems with both chickens and ducks. During wet weather chickens that are on soil runs will build up clogs of mud on their claws, and when this dries it becomes compacted which can reduce or stop the circulation to the feet and toes. It's worth a weekly inspection to prevent this, and as a further preventative we find putting down a layer of Easi-chick (or similar wood bark) does help to stop this from happening. In very cold conditions, lack of water for both chickens and ducks can prove fatal as they need an adequate supply of water to help with the digestion of their feed. Please make sure that their water container is defrosted before feeding them overwise their crops could become compacted. It's advisable to leave water inside the coop overnight as this will help prevent it from freezing. Ice on ponds should broken all the way around otherwise you may lose a duck or two as they dive under the top sheet. Icy conditions can also cause leg injuries with ducks and chickens pulling ligaments on slippery surfaces.
I would like thank all of you that have followed and commented on my blogs over the past few years; it's always interesting to hear that they have been of some use to you.
Finally, I would like to wish you and your girls all a very Happy Christmas and a very egg-productive 2018.
Hope to see you soon.
