Chortle Chook Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 Having seen on here that one of you has just given 12 chooks a 'full MOT' I decided to ask something I've been meaning to ask for a while. Do you give each one of your chickens a full MOT? If so how often? As some of you know I've had a few problems this year and I am wondering if I just don't spend enough time with my chooks as individuals. I've had pet hammies and ratties before and bunnies too and with all of those, so long as their housing was always kept clean and they had nice food and time to run about free each day, all seemed to go well and they lived out full lives to the very end. For my chickens I clean them regularly (poo pick daily and do a complete and total all out clean every fortnight), feed them Garvo and put cider vinegar in their warter during moulting time, give them each spot on every six months, and give them all-day free range conditions yet this year, I've had 3 chicken deaths all before their time I'm wondering if I just don't spend enough time with each individual especially now it is dark and they are in bed long before I stop work. I wondered what those of you who have quite a few chickens do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 I try and give mine a good look at every week, usually on a friday afternoon - but then I am lucky enough to finish just after 1pm every day - when it is still daylight. If I don't manage each week then I go for every 2 weeks. I have also introduced enforced cuddles which gives me a good chance to look them all over. I do try and do mine quite often as the 3 pekins have fluffy feet and get mud balls stuck to them, and it's also easier to spot anything before it might get too serious. Have I actually helped, I'm not sure, because I just thought to myself that maybe even once a week isn't that often Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 I inspect the girls weekly, usually when I do the weekly cube clean. I do make sure I watch them emerge from the cube in the morning and give them a cursory look over to make sure they all look ok and go straight for the food (always an indication of health) I feel the crop quite often to make sure it feels right, I don't spent hours out there with them, and on the two days I work I barley see them. I do make sure they have ACV for a week every six weeks or so and are wormed and spot on every 4/6 months. At the moment I am trying to give them something warm about 3pm so they go to bed with a full crop. I hope I am doing enough? What constitutes a full MOT? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 Mine get a checking over every quarter when I do their preventative lice treatment. Anything else out of the ordinary gets investigated anyway but they're generally healthy, so I don't bother them. When you've had chooks a while, you just get to know when something's not right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted November 22, 2013 Author Share Posted November 22, 2013 Thanks guys. Yes your messages have helped. I do watch my chooks coming out each morning and have learnt the hard way that when one does not come rushing out with the rest it is not because she fancies a lie in. I also hand feed them treats around 11 each morning (I used to give them shortbread but now it is healthy bits of apple, pear or greens) but I haven't given them much hands on cuddling. I think this is something I must change and will now aim to give each a hands on check every weekend starting this one . . . watch out Doodle . . . I know you don't like being held much but you'll just have to pretend you are a Poland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 You might find it easier to do about half an hour after they've gone in to roost; they will be more placid. One of the first things I teach is how to hold your bird/s securely and to conduct a health check; especially helpful for when you're buying new birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted November 25, 2013 Author Share Posted November 25, 2013 Well, each one of my chooks had a full MOT this weekend. Heads were easier to do than bums but we got there and I'm happy to report that all are now mite and lice free and powdered up just in case. Only thing is, when it came to the lice powder, I think I got more on myself than on them, so no bugs on me either now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 25, 2013 Share Posted November 25, 2013 that's why I don't use powder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted November 25, 2013 Share Posted November 25, 2013 Crumbs! Well apart from doing a head count every few days in colours/breeds, I just make sure they all look happy, are feeding and doing their usual chickeny things and I assume all is well. If one is away from the others then I observe. Today one hunched chook briefly, but as she is now 2 years old and moulting a lot she is allowed to be ticked off about that, and loss of status. She is fine otherwise. Other than that it's just cleaning the houses and making sure feed/water with acv is fresh. I guess observation is my mainstay to see if anything is out of the norm? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
