Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Leicester_H]

Hi

 

I have 3 cream legbars in a 12’x6’ WIR – they’re still too flighty to be let out of run - had from 12 weeks old - coming up to 3YO.

Yesterday, I noticed Kitty had a 1cm horizontal ‘scratch’ at the very bottom of the front of one leg (sort of where leg joins foot - so not a place to scratch easily) – I assumed she’d scratched herself somehow and didn’t think too much about it.

 

Today, both her legs have 1cm scratch-like ‘wounds’. I then noticed Millie had one similar ‘wound’. She did not have the ‘wound’ yesterday.

 

The 3rd hen (Janie) was pecking the wounds so covered in Gention violet spay, so no blood visible – but Janie was still pecking the wounds.

 

So have brought lone ex-bat into utility room in dog crate (she loves being inside and I was just trying to get her out more after an illness) and put Janie (the pecker) into the Omlet run. This can go on for a few days, but not indefinitely.

 

Just been back and looked closely again - no sign of raised scales or anything else.

 

Any ideas as to what’s going on and what to do about it ?

 

TIA, H

[mullethunter]

I don't have any idea I'm afraid - very odd. Hope someone has an answer for you. Can you post a photo?

[Beantree]

Is it a rat attack Leicester? I seem to remember years ago someone on the forum had a hen's feet chewed off? Of course the others will be attracted to the wound and perhaps Stockholm Tar would be a better choice?

[Leicester_H]

Hi

 

Don't think it could be rats - all sides and roof of WIR are proper grid and base is slabbed.

 

Also, wounds are 'identical' which is why its so odd - also in a place that's almost impossible to catch against anything rough (think of front of human 'ankle' where leg joins foot - not easy to come into contact with anything)

 

I liberally applied the Gentian spray and so it hard to see wounds (which is the idea!) - so difficult to get photo right now (good idea but wasn't 1st thought yesterday when dealing with the situation)

 

Yesterday, they were limping SLIGHTLY as 'joint' between leg and foot was clearly a little painful but even then they were scratching around

- today they seem fine and can't see any wound or blood through the purple spray.

 

If nothing changes, I'll keep Janie separate for a few days, then put her back and keep a VERY close eye on her for 1st few hours.

OH thought that maybe Janie had caused the wounds but they look too regular to me?

 

Very puzzled, H

[Beantree]

Sounds as though they have tripped up over the same piece of wire or something? Not a rat in that position I think?

 

Has something moved so they can now get their foot stuck in it? Or have you changed anything, like giving them a treadle feeder?

[Leicester_H]

I don't THINK anything has moved - but that was my first thought - will check AGAIN today.

 

Have ordered some Stockholm tar as well.

 

Thanks all, H

[Hippie Chick]

Maybe it could be caused by them sparring with each other? I'm only suggesting that as I saw one of my broody girls getting uppity the other day with my dog and 'sparring' through the wire netting of their run at him. I only saw her do it once but I did think that she would hurt her legs if she stuck one through the wire.

[mullethunter]

Funily enough, I've just watched my girls going to bed, and when Margot went in and stood beside Shelley who had already settled down, Shelley sort of pecked sort of grabbed Margot around the leg. Had her beak right around the bottom point of her leg! She didn't do any damage but I imagine if she'd been serous about it that perhaps she could have done. Maybe worth trying to watch your girls as they go in at night?

[The Dogmother]

Sounds a bit odd - do you have any photos?

[Cat tails]

The roosting bars are quite far apart for my bantams. Could it be that they got their feet caught underneath the roosting bars and s"Ooops, word censored!"ed them open, when trying to get free?

[mullethunter]

Actually Cattails that would make sense

[Cat tails]

Ginger lost her legband twice, by getting it caugth behind the roosting bars...

[Leicester_H]

Thanks all for your ideas - many heads are better than one.

 

Roosting bars are plastic - and look smooth. Also, 'normal' size hens (not bantams ) so unlikely (but not impossible, knowing chickens!) to get feet trapped as suggested.

 

The WIR is made from panels, made (not by us) by fixing mesh to wooden frames. Bottom edges of mesh are cut - and possibly sharp in places.

We have now put thick plastic 'tape' over these edges, fixed in place with a staple gun.

 

I still can't see how they managed to contact this edge in that part of their legs or why after 3 years, 3 legs were cut in 2 days but it the only slight possibility we can think of. As Arthur Conan Doyle wrote "Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth."

 

Can't see wounds at all now - so will re-introduce the pecker to them tomorrow afternoon, if its warm enough for me to sit outside run with a book to monitor proceedings.

 

Fingers crossed and thanks again for taking the time to reply, H