You've got questions? Ron's got answers.
We are frequently asked poultry management questions so we've asked Ron Kean, Extension Poultry Specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to answer your questions each issue. If you have poultry health questions, send them to us at Backyard Poultry, 145 Industrial Dr., Medford, WI 54451 or email to questions@backyardpoultry.com.
Free-ranging birds & predators
I would like to free-range my birds. Do I need to worry about predators?
In a word, yes! Predators seem to be a constant threat for any birds that are allowed to free range. One of the most common predators I hear about is roaming dogs - either those of the bird owners or those of neighbors. While some dogs will live harmoniously with poultry, some seem to go wild and go on a killing spree. Cats generally aren't a problem, except with young chicks or pigeons.
Other common predators are hawks and owls. Even when the birds are in an enclosed pen, they will attack if the top is not covered. Since these are protected species, you are limited in what you can do to stop this. You can string monofilament fishing line across the top of the pen. Hanging old compact disks (Finally a use for those free ones that come in the mail!), shiny pie tins, etc., around the yard can help, too. Some people have had success with strings of flashing red lights (like those sold around the holidays) to ward off owls. The best method of prevention is to cover the top of the pen with netting or wire.
Raccoons are a very common predator, too. Once they find an easy chicken dinner, they will return every few days if they can. Raccoons are adept at climbing over the top of a pen, finding a small hole in a fence, or even making their own hole in some weak board or netting. It's not unusual to find most of the chicken still intact, often with just the crop and maybe some intestines consumed. Raccoons generally don't come around until dusk, so if you can close up the coop before dark, you can usually avoid these losses. Just be careful as the days get shorter in the fall, since you must be home before it gets dark. Electric fencing, strung about 6-8 inches off the ground, can be very effective, too. Raccoons can usually be trapped fairly easily. Baits such as tuna, sardines, or even the dead chicken from the first kill can be used. If you're thinking of live-trapping and relocating the raccoon, remember that they can return from quite a distance, and you may also be dumping a problem on someone else. Finally, even if you trap that raccoon, it's likely another one will move in, so you should definitely improve your fencing to prevent another attack.
Animals such as foxes, coyotes, rats, opossums, mink, etc. are other predators you may have to deal with, too. Lots of animals like a chicken dinner!!
As you can see, true free-ranging may be a risky proposition. It is probably safer for the birds to have an enclosed pen that is large enough to give them some range. Otherwise, you probably should plan on losing some birds to predators.
Another note on free-ranging: With the current concerns about avian influenza, it is important to note that free-ranging birds will be exposed to more wild birds which can carry diseases. Owners should discourage mingling with wild birds as much as possible. Migrating waterfowl can carry influenza and are thought to be a major factor in its spread across Asia and Europe.
"Decrowing" roosters
Since I live in town, I'm not allowed to have roosters. Can I "decrow" a rooster and keep him?
While this sounds like a great idea, it is not a simple procedure. Dr. Bernard Wentworth, emeritus professor at the University of Wisconsin, agrees. He tried some of these surgeries many years ago. The muscles that allow the syrinx to contract need to be cut. The syrinx is located at the very bottom of the trachea, where it splits and enters the lungs, so it is not easy to get to these muscles. "It's a difficult and risky surgical procedure, since you're close to some very important blood vessels," Wentworth says. Unfortunately, I don't know of any good ways to keep a rooster from crowing at this time. If you're in an area that doesn't allow them, you probably will have to stick with hens.
Scaly leg mites
Something is wrong with my chicken's feet. The scales are sticking up and there is whitish "dirt" all over them. What should I do?
It sounds like your chicken has scaly leg mites (Knemidocoptes mutans). These tiny mites burrow under the scales. The debris (waste from the mites and secretions from the birds) causes the scales to protrude. Fortunately, this is usually fairly easy to treat. Just rub some petroleum jelly all over the affected area. Repeat in about a week, and maybe again a week later. The petroleum jelly suffocates the mites. After a couple of months, most of the debris should disappear and the scales usually go down some, though they may always appear slightly raised.
Medicated feed for chicks
My friend says I should feed medicated feed to my new baby chicks. I'm concerned about giving medications. Do I have to feed medicated feed?
The term "medicated" probably needs some explanation. Nearly all "medicated" chicken feeds contain a coccidiostat. Coccidiosis is a disease chickens get that causes paleness, lethargy, ruffled feathers, decreased appetite, and diarrhea, which is sometimes bloody. It is caused by various species of protozoa called Eimeria. The medication is usually specific for coccidiosis and won't help treat or prevent other diseases. If chicks are exposed to low levels of these disease-causing protozoa, most will develop immunity to coccidiosis as they get older. If they are hit with too large a number at once, they can die from it. The idea of a coccidiostat in the feed is to limit the numbers of protozoa so they slowly develop immunity. Another aspect of Eimeria is that it's oocysts (sort of like spores or fertilized eggs) can remain in the ground or litter for a long time. In warm, moist conditions, they become infective and can be passed to other chickens. It should also be noted that chickens can have some coccidiosis and not show outward signs. They will have slower growth or poorer feed conversion, but you might not notice these things if you don't have other flocks for comparison.
So, if you can keep the chick's litter dry and fairly clean, this will help a great deal toward preventing an outbreak. Some people would rather limit the chance of a problem, and choose to use medicated feed. Most birds will become immune to coccidiosis after a couple of months, and then medicated feed is no longer required. If you haven't had a problem in the past, and you are able to keep the litter dry, you can probably get by without the coccidiostat. Medicated feed makes management a little easier, since it helps limit the risk of your chickens getting sick.
I should also point out that there are treatments available for coccidiosis, if you take the chance and then find out they have it. These are usually applied in the birds' water.
Guineas for Tick Control
I've heard that guineas will eliminate ticks, snakes, etc. from my farm yard. Is that true?
Yes and maybe! Controlled studies1 have shown that guineas will decrease the number of ticks in an area. In one study, the researchers used guineas in mobile pens and could not find ticks inside those pens, but did find ticks outside the pens. In another study, the guineas were allowed outside the pens, and ticks were only found inside the pens (where there were no guineas). While I have not seen any research, many people say that guineas will harass and sometimes kill snakes. Of course, snakes can be a good form of rodent control in their own right, so you might be trading one issue for another!
While some people won't appreciate the noise, guineas can be used as an attractive and interesting form of tick control!
And lastly, the second most frequently asked poultry question: Why did the chicken cross the road?
To prove to the opossums and raccoons that it can be done without getting hit by a car!
1Duffy, D.C., R. Downer, and C. Brinkley. The effectiveness of Helmeted Guineafowl in the control of the deer tick, the vector of Lyme disease. Wilson Bulletin, 104(2), 1992, pp. 342-345.
