Surviving Minnesota!

So back in my first winter of chickening: Roger broke his toe which subsequently frostbit then fell off at one of the first joints. I gave him a once over 2 nights ago and his toe (what's left of it) appears to be whitish and swollen again. I suspect rotting chicken (infection) so not sure if it's frostbit again and more will be falling off. At any rate...more PITA chicken maintenance. Here's Tootsie After his heal-up about 3 years ago. Looks like it's about to get shorter. Shoot.
Is this typically an issue with heavier roosters or can it happen to hens too? I installed a low roost for Conrad to prevent foot issues but the hens can and do roost as high as 4 ft off the ground
 
Not sure what's up with this egg but it is really soft. It was weird to pick it up..
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I think the heavier the bird the more issues. I do have a couple good sized hens and I have noted broken toes earlier with higher roosts before. But also on a bantam rooster as well. The boys are just a little more "zealous" getting off that roost in the morning. So they bring it on themselves. My roost is at 2 1/2 feet and I'm sure he broke it again. He broke a big middle one last spring...but with the warm up it didn't freeze (due to poorer circulation with the break) and healed back up. A little more crooked but a toe completely intact.
 
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Fun! It's a rubber egg.  Usually a once in a great while sort of egg.  The shell maker misfired in her little egg factory inside.  If she starts laying a bunch of them though...there maybe more serious issues.


That's so weird, my husband brought in one like that the other night (it was frozen). I was worried it was a calcium level issue? We don't do layer feed just because I read that the high calcium in the feed can be bad for the rooster, so had out oyster shells, but haven't filled that up since before the winter slow down.
 
This morning a Bald eagle swooped down to about 10 feet above the ground right next the ducks yard! Fortunately it swooped right back up, but it certainly scared the daylights out of the ducks and geese. Aren't eagles supposed to be down south for the winter???
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I have never had frostbit toes so I cant really help... I'm sure its only a matter of time till I do!









I am thinking its time to cull hens this fall... I think we should replace the whole flock with Buckeyes... Idk... I will keep a few of our favorite hens and the rest will be stew hens... Maybe we will sell them for... I have the incubator heating up.for a few replacement as we speak... I just keep.feeding the addiction...
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I have never had frostbit toes so I cant really help... I'm sure its only a matter of time till I do!









I am thinking its time to cull hens this fall... I think we should replace the whole flock with Buckeyes... Idk... I will keep a few of our favorite hens and the rest will be stew hens... Maybe we will sell them for... I have the incubator heating up.for a few replacement as we speak... I just keep.feeding the addiction...
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A couple of the ducks have a tiny bit of frostbite on their webbing, but nothing serious. While your feeding it, would you like to buy a couple of khaki campbell and a runner drake? I have too many of them.
 

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