I have this juvenile chicken who wasn't looksing so hot a few days actually. Actually he was frozen. He was acting a bit lethargic. Not really interested in food or water. I put some aside for him so the other birds couldn't get to it and he ate and drank a bit. I saw he was walking funny and yesterday I went to pick him up to put him in the coop early so he could get out of the freezing wind and his feet were frozen solid!
I think I have heard of this or at least frostbite on chicken feet but in my 4 years of keeping poultry, this is the first time this has happened. This chicken is about 3 months old. He has 3 siblings that are the same age and they are all fine and active so it can't be his age. I guess this particular chicken was just more susceptible to the cold somehow?
Anyway. last night I moved him indoors. To a cooler part of my house which didn't keep him from jumping out of his container and finding his way in front of the wood stove. His feet are thawed and in much better shape now. I am going to wait til he gets his strength back and is eating much more before I try to put him out again but here are my questions:
Can I prevent this from happening to this chicken again? And how? Chicken booties?
And how do I get a chicken who is now used to sitting in front of the woodstove, to go back outside without killing him from the sudden temperature difference?
I think I have heard of this or at least frostbite on chicken feet but in my 4 years of keeping poultry, this is the first time this has happened. This chicken is about 3 months old. He has 3 siblings that are the same age and they are all fine and active so it can't be his age. I guess this particular chicken was just more susceptible to the cold somehow?
Anyway. last night I moved him indoors. To a cooler part of my house which didn't keep him from jumping out of his container and finding his way in front of the wood stove. His feet are thawed and in much better shape now. I am going to wait til he gets his strength back and is eating much more before I try to put him out again but here are my questions:
Can I prevent this from happening to this chicken again? And how? Chicken booties?
And how do I get a chicken who is now used to sitting in front of the woodstove, to go back outside without killing him from the sudden temperature difference?