Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

Ah... See, when I thought she was an Ameracauna, I read that they are not cuddly birds- Well my chonky girl Bolt loves cuddles. Are EE's and Buff Orp's known for loving cuddles?

Orpingtons in general have a reputation for being calm and friendly birds. (Every breed has personalities that don't match the reputation). EEs have so much variety that they can act in very different ways inspite of similarity in upbringing. They are reputed to be friendly (as contrasted with breeds described as flighty)

 

[lightm]

Damage!

It looks like Glynda caught frostbite in the last cold snap. It has taken a few days for it to show up but it has the potential to take all of her comb tips. Only time will tell. I have some hope since it has taken this long for it to show up.
View attachment 3361995View attachment 3361996View attachment 3361997

No one else is any the worse for the cold snap. Just Glynda. This will be the first time one of mine has ever suffered from frostbite.

Oh poor Glynda

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

I have no idea, it all depends on the individual hen. Trust me, if she decides to go broody, YOU. WILL, KNOW. ? right @RebeccaBoyd ?

Oh yes, once you hear that shriek that sounds like it is coming from a pterodactyl you will never forget it.

 

[lightm]

I forgot to do dog tax... here, I will do double taxView attachment 3362142Bolt being absolutely terrifying
And Bolt after breaking her beak
View attachment 3362144

Hello Bolt! Is her beak good now?

I am sorry I have to laugh at the first picture, looks like a frame from a really bad 90's music video.

 

[BY Bob]

Why Frostbite this time?

i need to figure out why Glynda got Frostbite and Daisy, the greatest hen ever, never did. What do i need to change to prevent this from happening again?

Sorry about this! I hope some of her tips heal. Were the temperatures the coldest one you've had since you've kept chickens ? Or is there any chance that changing the coop's roof have affected the level of humidity inside ?

I have kind of hinted around at this today but I wanted to pull my thoughts all together in one post.

This is not nearly the coldest weather I have shepherded chickens through. Daisy, the greatest hen ever, survived temperatures at least a low as -10°F (-23°C) with no damage at all to her magnificent award winning comb.

So why now when, while the temp was down into single digits but definitely not down below 0°?

I went to the photos of roosting and lined them up with the coldest temps.

On Friday night it went down to 6°F (-14°C). Friday night she roosted like this.

On Saturday night it went down to 4°F (-15°C). Saturday night he roosted like this.

On Sunday night it went down to 15°F (-9°C). She roosted like this.

On Monday night it went down to 15°F and she was in the Cluckle Hut again.

That's 3 nights in the Cluckle Hut with 3 other hens on 2 of the nights. I have not had this many chickens overnight in the Cluckle Hut ever before. It could be that I have a ventilation issue in the Hut with that many hens in there at one time.

The wind chill is another potential issue. On Friday and Saturday wind chills were approaching -20°F (-29°C). That's cold enough to cause frostbite in a matter of minutes. Always before in such situations I have locked them in the Main Coop. This time I did not. This may have been my biggest mistake. If i had disabled the automated door they would only have been able to roost in the Main Coop and Glynda would not have been exposed to the wind.

I have plastic over most of the windward facing portions of the coop run complex but not on the potion directly under the house. If Glynda caught the wind that was where it happened. I could line that portion with shower curtains as well.

I do need to think on this further but this is where I find my thoughts today. If I am going to add ventilation to the Cluckle Hut I need to do it soon while it is warm out and before the next cold snap.

The easiest solution to all of this is to lock them down next time and not let any of them out of the big coop. No matter what I think that was my big error. Poor Glynda is paying for it right now.

 

[RoyalChick]

Why Frostbite this time?

i need to figure out why Glynda got Frostbite and Daisy, the greatest hen ever, never did. What do i need to change to prevent this from happening again?



I have kind of hinted around at this today but I wanted to pull my thoughts all together in one post.

This is not nearly the coldest weather I have shepherded chickens through. Daisy, the greatest hen ever, survived temperatures at least a low as -10°F (-23°C) with no damage at all to her magnificent award winning comb.

View attachment 3362611

So why now when, while the temp was down into single digits but definitely not down below 0°?

I went to the photos of roosting and lined them up with the coldest temps.

On Friday night it went down to 6°F (-14°C). Friday night she roosted like this.

View attachment 3362671

On Saturday night it went down to 4°F (-15°C). Saturday night he roosted like this.
View attachment 3362672

On Sunday night it went down to 15°F (-9°C). She roosted like this.
View attachment 3362673

On Monday night it went down to 15°F and she was in the Cluckle Hut again.

That's 3 nights in the Cluckle Hut with 3 other hens on 2 of the nights. I have not had this many chickens overnight in the Cluckle Hut ever before. It could be that I have a ventilation issue in the Hut with that many hens in there at one time.

The wind chill is another potential issue. On Friday and Saturday wind chills were approaching -20°F (-29°C). That's cold enough to cause frostbite in a matter of minutes. Always before in such situations I have locked them in the Main Coop. This time I did not. This may have been my biggest mistake. If i had disabled the automated door they would only have been able to roost in the Main Coop and Glynda would not have been exposed to the wind.

I have plastic over most of the windward facing portions of the coop run complex but not on the potion directly under the house. If Glynda caught the wind that was where it happened. I could line that portion with shower curtains as well.

I do need to think on this further but this is where I find my thoughts today. If I am going to add ventilation to the Cluckle Hut I need to do it soon while it is warm out and before the next cold snap.

The easiest solution to all of this is to lock them down next time and not let any of them put off the big coop. No matter what I think that was my big error. Poor Glynda is paying for it right now.

 

[MaryJanet]

Damage!

It looks like Glynda caught frostbite in the last cold snap. It has taken a few days for it to show up but it has the potential to take all of her comb tips. Only time will tell. I have some hope since it has taken this long for it to show up.
View attachment 3361995View attachment 3361996View attachment 3361997

No one else is any the worse for the cold snap. Just Glynda. This will be the first time one of mine has ever suffered from frostbite.

So sorry Bob. Does it seem to bother her?

 

[BY Bob]

So sorry Bob. Does it seem to bother her?

Not that I can tell. She was as active as ever today. I would hate for Phyllis to peck her comb though. That could be very painful.

 

[LozzyR]

Damage!

It looks like Glynda caught frostbite in the last cold snap. It has taken a few days for it to show up but it has the potential to take all of her comb tips. Only time will tell. I have some hope since it has taken this long for it to show up.
View attachment 3361995View attachment 3361996View attachment 3361997

No one else is any the worse for the cold snap. Just Glynda. This will be the first time one of mine has ever suffered from frostbite.

Oh no, poor Glynda!

 

[Ponypoor]

It looks way bigger in person his photos dont do justice to his comb

Soon he will be an awesome big Roo