Appreciation post: the lady who taught me about chicken first aid

Met an older woman at the feed store in Salem last spring who completely changed how I handle sick birds. She saw me grabbing some random electrolyte powder and asked what was wrong with my hen. I told her one of my Barred Rocks had a swollen crop and I was just guessing at treatments. She spent 15 minutes showing me how to gently massage the crop and check for sour crop by smell. Then she walked me over to the herb section and pointed me toward dried oregano and garlic powder for the water. It was the most practical advice I ever got, no fluff or fancy products. Has anyone else had a random stranger at the feed store give them a game-changing tip?

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leo_harris2h ago

My four year old Wyandotte got bumblefoot last August and I was ready to throw money at vet bills. A guy in line at Tractor Supply saw me holding a tube of antibiotic ointment and told me to soak her foot in warm Epsom salt first, then wrap it with vet wrap tight but not too tight. I did that for three days straight and the swelling went down way faster than I expected. His whole thing was that most foot infections just need to be kept clean and dry, not doused in stuff. I still do that soak trick whenever I see any redness on their feet.