What should I do?

[frias]

I visited someone in a home for the elderly last week and saw they were keeping chickens. I couldn't resist a look of course and was dismayed to see they had what looked like scaley leg mite. One was limping badly and the foot looked swollen. Not sure if it because of the mites or bumble foot as I couldn't get really close. Anyway I had a word with a member of staff and they said they would tell the person who looks after them the most. I was tod they do lay but I noticed all had very pale combs and so now I'm wondering if they might have red mite in the coop. I'm visiting again tomorrow so will check to see if anything has been done. What else can I do?

[Suechooks]

How about taking some scaly leg spray and some Diatom or a sprayer containing Smite/Poultry Shield with you?(or whatever you use!)
There are so many people who just don't realise that hens need proper husbandry and care. They wouldn't leave their dogs and cats limping so why the poor chooks!
They are of course the latest must-have fashion accessory.

[baldrick]

if you have time offer the person responsible to lend a hand. probably they have them to give the old dears an interest. Its a valid idea to keep animals but I guess if its anything like my care assistant days its all they can do to get enough staff to change someones clothing...........If its a res care rather than a nursing home there will probably be residents who would love to help you and as a volunteer its a more productive use of your time than bu**ering about with macrame etc!

[Corris]

I too would offer to help. No doubt someone had a great idea to keep them - delegated it to someone else on the staff with no experience and little enthusiasm and no one really wants responsibility (can you tell I've worked in a residential setting? - not with olds though).

Next time you go have another word, say you think they 'might have a problem' that it's 'a hobby of mine' and 'can I offer some support - not to offend you know, but fowl illnesses can be hard to spot and easy to treat'.

[frias]

I wish I could offer to physically help. Unfortunately I am disabled and have difficulty walking, made even worse at the moment by the fact that I decided to walk in my garden without my splint on and fell over and broke a bone in my foot. (My OH does all the cleaning etc of our girls under instruction!) I couldn't resist looking at the hens at the home but didn't dare go into their fenced area as the ground is too uneven. This is a respite care home so I don't think any of the residents are particularly interested as the maximum time they can stay there is 4 weeks. I was a care assistant in an elderly care home myself for many years and was an assistant manager when I was retired off with ill health so know only too well how precious little time the staff have to look after residents let alone the hens. I did speak to one of the staff about my concerns but tomorrow hopefully I can seek out the manager. Of course I don't know how they came by the hens but hopefully they have got money in the kitty for their health. I do think the one that is limping needs to see a vet. If they have got red mite in the coop then I don't mind parting with some Diatoms and Smite both of which I use although the only way I got rid was to re-house the girls for a while and creosote the coop. Spot-on is probably the quickest way to treat scaley leg mite as I can't see staff having time to use other methods. Trouble is I haven't got enough money in my own kitty to treat other peoples hens, even though I am worried about them.