Frostbitten feet?

[furbabymum]

I think my peas are getting frost bite on their feet. I thought the major requirement to prevent this was blocking the wind. They are locked up in our barn/coop so the wind is most definitely blocked. It hasn't been getting any colder than -5 and even then it's short lived. Still their feet seem to be getting lumpy and when I see them walking they keep lifting them into their bodies. None of the chickens, guineas or ducks are looking like this. Any tips?

 

[zazouse]

How wide is your roosting boards? they should be wide enough so when the peas sit down their feet are well covered by their belly feathers and they should never be made of metal as that will freeze them also.

 

[furbabymum]

How wide is your roosting boards? they should be wide enough so when the peas sit down their feet are well covered by their belly feathers and they should never be made of metal as that will freeze them also.

I have a very wide variety of roosts. We have some fence posts that are probably 4 inches in diameter. We then have the rafters of the barn which are about 2 inches in diameter. Then we have a bunch of old fencing we've put in there and that's pretty thin. The only part we have metal is one part of the barn, in the rafters, we have some extra metal sheeting being stored. I will say I've seen them on it most nights. Why would they choose that?? I suppose we can remove it.

 

[zazouse]

They don't always know better, like mine will roost in the warm barn in the daytime and then roost in the cold wind up in the trees, that worried me but they are free to do what they want, my spalding boys were shaking this morning so everyone got warm oatmeal with eggs in it.

 

[furbabymum]

They don't always know better, like mine will roost in the warm barn in the daytime and then roost in the cold wind up in the trees, that worried me but they are free to do what they want, my spalding boys were shaking this morning so everyone got warm oatmeal with eggs in it.

As I said, I can move the metal. I'd really rather not right now though. It's metal sheeting as I said and we get wind here pretty severely. It's 20mph right now. So while I could move it it will be painful right now.

 

[new 2 pfowl]

It's a bit hard to get a picture of where this metal is, but is there any way you can throw something over it to either discourage them from standing on it or to protect their feet if they do stand on it? I'm thinking burlap, tarp, dropcloth, something like that.

 

[zazouse]

As I said, I can move the metal. I'd really rather not right now though. It's metal sheeting as I said and we get wind here pretty severely. It's 20mph right now. So while I could move it it will be painful right now.

Can you slide some plywood over it, i would not want to move it either specily in the wind, someone could get hurt.

 

[furbabymum]

It's a bit hard to get a picture of where this metal is, but is there any way you can throw something over it to either discourage them from standing on it or to protect their feet if they do stand on it? I'm thinking burlap, tarp, dropcloth, something like that.

It's in the rafters.

These are what the rafters are like. The metal is just slid in up there for storage purposes. Never would have thought........

I was thinking I can take it down and leave it propped on the wall in the barn until the wind is gone. I think that is what I will do.

I'd do the wood over option zazouse but I'm 6 months pregnant and I don't see myself being physically capable of that.

 

[zazouse]

It's in the rafters.

These are what the rafters are like. The metal is just slid in up there for storage purposes. Never would have thought........

I was thinking I can take it down and leave it propped on the wall in the barn until the wind is gone. I think that is what I will do.

I'd do the wood over option zazouse but I'm 6 months pregnant and I don't see myself being physically capable of that.

NO No don't do that..
When are you due? do you know if it is a boy or girl?
Congratulations on the baby

 

[furbabymum]

NO No don't do that..
When are you due? do you know if it is a boy or girl?
Congratulations on the baby

Don't prop it on the wall?? lol
April and it's a girl. Already have a boy so I keep telling my husband we are DONE!