scabs
5 stories filed under scabs on Alektorophobia. The newest of them: “Weeds, kids, and a fowl foot fiasco: our bumblefoot battle”, “Dry fowl pox has landed: here's how to help your clucky patient through it”, and “When a hen's eye goes squint, it's time to cluck into action”. Thorny weeds, curious kids, and a fowl foot fiasco, that's one cluck-tastic combination. Oh, poor clucky patient, and poor you, watching those mysterious spours pop up on your hen's head. Chickens. Everything there is to know about chickens and the fear of them. The list below is every scabs story on Alektorophobia, newest first.
Weeds, kids, and a fowl foot fiasco: our bumblefoot battle
Thorny weeds, curious kids, and a fowl foot fiasco, that's one cluck-tastic combination. I've got four backyard chickens, and two came down with bumblefoot after my little ones tossed those prickly weeds into the coop. The chickens loved scratching through the piles, and well, you can guess the rest. We did the full regimen for weeks: Epsom salt soaks, prid, wrapping. The pus core came out, swelling went down, and scabs formed. But now, weeks later, those flat scabs linger. No tenderness, no swelling, just stubborn scabs. Is that normal? I've been checking daily, spraying antiseptic, but nothing changes.
Dry fowl pox has landed: here's how to help your clucky patient through it
Oh, poor clucky patient, and poor you, watching those mysterious spours pop up on your hen's head. Dry fowl pox is no joke, but you're already doing the right thing by asking for help. The good news? Once this runs its course, your whole flock should be immune, which is oddly comforting in a "we all suffer together" kind of way. The bad news? It's a slow, ugly process. Those spots on your other hens are likely the start, so keep a close eye, and maybe a little distance. You can't really "dry" them before they erupt, but keeping the coop clean and stress-free helps.
When a hen's eye goes squint, it's time to cluck into action
Oh, a squinty-eyed hen with a wobble and a face full of dried blood? That's enough to make any chicken keeper's heart drop straight into their boots. You did exactly the right thing by isolating her in a dark, quiet crate, that's concussion protocol 101 for our feathered friends. Flushing the eye three times is a solid start; if it looks clear underneath, keep it up once or twice daily just to prevent infection, but don't overdo it. As for the crusted blood, skip the bath, water stress could undo her recovery. Instead, gently dab a warm, damp cloth around the edges, avoiding the ear holes entirely. Let the scabs fall off naturally.
Why That Swollen Toe Knuckle's Got Her Hopping (But Only at a Run)
Well, here's a feathered mystery that's got me scratching my head right along with you. Your girl's got a swollen top knuckle on that middle toe, and while she's not letting it slow her down during a casual stroll, that limp when she runs? That's her telling you something's off. I love that she just bounced back from a bumble foot scare, but the fact that this knuckle can't bend like the other foot's is worth a second look. It might be a lingering souvenir from that infection, or maybe a fresh tweak from a clumsy landing. Either way, don't chicken out on this one. Keep an eye on it, and if that swelling sticks around, a vet visit beats guessing. You've got this!
Bumblefoot got your girls down? We've got cluck-tastic treatment tips
Oh, bumblefoot. Just the word makes me want to check every single one of my girls' toes. You're doing all the right things, and honestly, the fact that your limping girl is walking better is a huge win. But I totally get that nagging worry about that stubborn scab. Here's the thing about digging those suckers out: sometimes you think you got it all, but that hard core is deeper than it looks. If the wound isn't softening, you might have left a bit of the keratin plug behind. Keep up with the Epsom soaks to help draw it out, and don't be shy about gently pressing around the edges to see if anything else is hiding in there.