Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

Wyandottes

Wyandotteys

 

[featherhead007]

I just found out my favorite cat was hit by a car this evening and did not make it. Please pray for my family and I. This is so very hard. Absolutely heartbreaking and traumatic.

sad for you and your family. Sending prayers for you

 

[rural mouse]

In freezing temps, the tips of straight combs get frostbite & turn black permanently. A rub of vit E oil on combs helps to keep from frostbite ~ even vaseline works except that will stain the feathers I learned the hard way. I had a Leghorn that got tiny frostbite on her comb so from then on I stayed away from getting any more straight comb breeds.

NO!!! Frostbite needs several things!

1. Highly tender, very sensitive. DO NOT TOUCH!

2. The black (if it is frostbite, which not all looks to be) will fall off on its own. The parts with a bit of puffiness in the pink flesh do look like frostbite. The ones without look like scabs. Either way, leave alone for now.

3. The skin needs to breathe to heal. Smothering it in oil of any kind (including vaseline) will keep it from breathing, delaying healing and be painful to boot.

4. Wait until after the black has fallen off to use anything on it. The vit E is a good idea ONLY then.

 

[rural mouse]

Vaseline worked for us ~ the only drawback is the vaseline comes off on the feathers & stains the feathers w/dirt when the bird took a dustbath! Our vet recommended E oil but we solved the frostbite problem by not getting any more straight comb breeds.

It's still NOT wise to put ANYTHING on frostbite until the black has fallen off. In addition to delaying healing, it HURTS! An animal doesn't understand why you're hurting it to "help" it. And Vaseline is about the worst. Putting it on to prevent frostbite can also draw it in due to the trapped moisture.

 

[rural mouse]

Best way to prevent frost bite is to stay out of the wind, sub freezing temps, and not get wet.

Oils and such won’t protect against frost bite, as it is the freezing temps that cause the skin to freeze. Oils won’t protect skin from freezing. Damage from frost hit will take up to a couple weeks to become apparent. Skin will slowly blacken as it dies off, the blackened skin. This is actually necrotic tissue that has died. If the tissue death is extensive infections can set in and sepsis can kill.

Animals like poultry are highly susceptible to frost bite due to their exposed skin, even those with small combs and wattles can get frosted, and legs and feet are also extremely prone to this.

And this is why I do not let my chooks out in the snow, if their feet get wet then they are prone to freezing, better safe than sorry I say. Winter will eventually end, and good weather will arrive - then the chooks can all enjoy the bugs and green grass.

If your chooks get frosted combs there is nothing that can be done other than to keep them in a draft free space, and give pain meds - trust me even minor frost bite is very painful . Tylenol would be fine, I would stay away from aspirin incase the skin starts to bleed.

If the other chooks start to pick at the necrotic skin you will need to keep the animal separate from them until it heals fully. Never ever rub anything on necrotic tissue - keep it dry so it eventually shrivels and falls off.

If you suspect any of your chooks have possible frost bite bring them in a warm location to thaw out slowly, watch for pain and give some Tylenol if so.

If legs are affected then my suggestion is to get vet assistance. Prognosis is extremely poor with legs.

Prevention is always better then cure, once that tissue is dead it’s not growing back.

FYI- same deal with people, if your fingers or toes, nose ears cheeks get frost bite, do not soak in warm water or rub, go into a warm dry location and you can gently warm up by laying you frosted fingers on you belly to warm up, or place a warm hand gently over your ears, nose, cheeks or toes. Never ever rub.

Take some Tylenol for any pain, and see your dr or go to emerg for any required treatment. Especially if you are diabetic - I cannot stress this enough.

Ok enough talk of cold, warm thoughts everyone.

 

[Ponypoor]

Mugs Monday

Mrs LC - she has a little bad made for her on my office chair.

Red - has her box with straw to sleep in, my older ladies are happy to sleep in the feedroom.

Raven - hasn’t been feeling well, she has had to runs, so some antibiotics and Tylenol/aspirin, and staying in the warmer feedroom; she is doing better today and her crop is full. Doors are not required.

 

[SimpleJenn]

It's still NOT wise to put ANYTHING on frostbite until the black has fallen off. In addition to delaying healing, it HURTS! An animal doesn't understand why you're hurting it to "help" it. And Vaseline is about the worst. Putting it on to prevent frostbite can also draw it in due to the trapped moisture.

Vaseline is an awesome barrier layer when you want moisture in the skin! I use it for my psoriasis to seal in the lotion/salve layer. I also put a layer on my lips at bedtime because I won't lick it off in my sleep haha.

In Shadrachs thread he talks about using it to smother scaly leg mites, which makes sense.

 

[Ponypoor]

My cheeks still are sore darn it! I know I know wear a scarf.

Oh and my toe which was frosted last week is turning dark on the tip, that’s tender let me tell you, and my thumbs are doing better, the one healed up nice, but the other is still raw.

This all happened because I didn’t wear appropriate gear, no wind in the barn but it’s darn cold, not to mention getting my hands wet with water buckets feed buckets, etc.

This is why I am sooooo paranoid with the chooks, making sure they have a warm up area, esp those boys with the big combs and wattles. As it is it looks like Shirley might have his tips frosted, they are a wee bit black. I’ll keep an eye on them, and then there was one of the pullets picking at his comb. And the idiot like Mr P just puts up with it!

What’s with these boys?’ Letting the hens ‘hen peck’ them???!!!

I had to pick him up and move him the other hen house room. Sheesh!

Only 51 more days till spring……

 

[Ponypoor]

Vaseline is an awesome barrier layer when you want moisture in the skin! I use it for my psoriasis to seal in the lotion/salve layer. I also put a layer on my lips at bedtime because I won't lick it off in my sleep haha.

In Shadrachs thread he talks about using it to smother scaly leg mites, which makes sense.

Yea it’s very good for dry skin. Also l like the stuff I use on the horses hooves, pine tar I think it’s called - awesome for your nails

I know they use Vaseline for scaly mites but it needs to be done daily at least, it’s messy and there are far more effective treatments out there. Horse bug spray has permethrin in it and that will work on the mites.

I used it a couple summers ago on lice and it worked awesome! Now I spray the nest boxes and roost ledges every month as a preventative. Who knew?!

Also works to keep ticks off you, I spray my clothes with it if I am working on the fencing or something out in the paddocks. And mosquitoes too….

 

[RoyalChick]

Yes that is possible, but it is that actual thermodynamics of cold/heat transfer which is the culprit.

A covering to block cold from sapping the heat from exposed skin is the key, in addition to staying dry. Even if your mitts get wet they will provide some protection against frost bite to your hands, you will be cold but not frozen.

Wind is bad for stripping heat from exposed skin - which is why my cheeks are stinging right now - previously frosted means sensitive always now, it’s not that cold here, but the wind is ferocious and I was put filling the water trough without a face covering. Bad Kelly!

Same happens with animals like poultry with their exposed skin.

The effect of 'protective ointments' on risk of getting frostbite has been quite extensively studied by the army in Finland. I don't know why I found it funny, but that is why I remember the results.
Putting on 'protective ointments' was a risk factor for developing frostbite (even more so than not wearing a scarf).
There is a lot of literature on this - apparently frostbite is a serious concern in the Finnish army!
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8541749/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10086864/

Frostbite tax: Sylvie roosting on the underlay-wrapped bracket so I am not worrying about frostbite on her feet.